Posted by Graeme Lee on August 11, 2006 at 6:34 AM
Taken on the lake at Slimbridge earlier in the week. Saw about 50 on the opposite side of the lake which was good to see. This particular lapwing wasn't close for very long and I didn't get time for better techs.....as usual!
After critique really with regards to the feathers in the water and the green foreground. Would you take time to clone these out and get rid of the OOF foliage, or would you just put this down to 'not a great' shooting opportunity and wait for the next time? Moving position wasn't an option
Comments appreciated.
Graeme
techs:
1d2,500/4 is + 2x, ISO 200, 1/1250th, F8, -0.3, AS B1, G1325
Posted by Rob Howard on August 11, 2006 at 7:34 AM
Hi Graeme,
For me personally, I would not take the time to clone the feathers etc out. As moving position was not an option, I would find another location to try for a shot of this species.
The actual Lapwing is nicely exposed with good colour, but the feathers and OOF foreground do distract IMHO.
These are common enough to hopefully get another go at!!
Hello Graeme
The OOF foreground leads my eye up to the bird, so I have no problem with that. The feathers in the water, coupled with the ruffled feathers of the lapwing seem to indicate to me that it has been having a good old preen, so I have no problem with them, either.
Leave as is for me.
Best wishes
Phil
Posted by Rob Chace on August 11, 2006 at 11:17 AM
Dont mind the feathers but i find myself trying to look over the green! Love the plumage of theese birds!
Posted by Sean Bolton on August 11, 2006 at 2:04 PM
Hi Graeme
I don't mind the feathers, the green foreground I find too dominant and distracting. I would put this one into the 'nearly but not quite bucket' and hope to try again some day. Without the green bit you would have had a decent portrait of this lovely bird.
My only other comment is the eye looks slightly soft. This might be due to using the 2x converter and shooting wide open. Have you considered adding a 1.6x crop body to your kit bag? This would allow you a similar amount of magnification but just requiring the use of a 1.4x TC which would improve image quality and gain you a stop of light. (Actually just slightly less magnification with a 1.6crop body but quite close).
cheers
Sean
Posted by Graeme Lee on August 11, 2006 at 3:52 PM
Thanks for the comments and opinions all.
Sean, are you serious about me considering perhaps a 20d/30d over a 1d2 to use a 1.4x over a 2x? I kinda see what you're saying but the 'nearly' the same focal lengths is 1120mm opposed to 1300mm and that's quite a lot in my eyes. To be honest, I don't particulary notice huge amounts of difference with the 1.4x and the 2x. The wider aperture factor is useful of course, but I'd never considered a higher crop factor body.... still won't actually...unless you persuade me (and my wife!)
Thanks again for the comments, Graeme
Posted by Sean Bolton on August 11, 2006 at 5:36 PM
Hi Graeme
I would agree with you the 2x TC performs extremely well with the longer primes such as the 300 2.8 and 500 4.0 although for best results you should stop down the aperture a little. With this particular shot I think you could shoot at f11 and I this would just gain you a small improvement in image quality.
cheers
Sean
Posted by Graeme Lee on August 11, 2006 at 6:49 PM
Yes thanks Sean. I will make a mental note to set the perture to at least f11 when I have the 2x on. I suppose not getting the shot is as bad as getting the shot, but it being a bit soft or the quality isn't great. Thanks for the reply. Graeme
Posted by John W Lee on August 12, 2006 at 4:55 AM
Even if you decided to clone out the foreground (which I do find distracting - more so as the colour is such a contrast to the rest of the pic) there is not much shoreline to work with when cloning. Perhaps a rare species would warrant that sort of work but in this case suspect the time would be better spent out in the field getting a better shot (and probably more enjoyable too).
Hi Graeme,
Looks like you got on well on your first visit to Slimbridge.
Although the Lapwings do come really close to the hides there,it isn't really an ideal location IMHO,because of the inability to get a decent low angle on them,although I know this isn't always necessary or desired.
Regarding the cloning of the green and feathers.Personally I wouldn't even consider it,way too much work involved, other photo oppurtunities with this species are bound to present themselves,hopefully when conditions are more suitable and favourable.
Discussion
9 repliesAfter critique really with regards to the feathers in the water and the green foreground. Would you take time to clone these out and get rid of the OOF foliage, or would you just put this down to 'not a great' shooting opportunity and wait for the next time? Moving position wasn't an option
Comments appreciated.
Graeme
techs:
1d2,500/4 is + 2x, ISO 200, 1/1250th, F8, -0.3, AS B1, G1325
For me personally, I would not take the time to clone the feathers etc out. As moving position was not an option, I would find another location to try for a shot of this species.
The actual Lapwing is nicely exposed with good colour, but the feathers and OOF foreground do distract IMHO.
These are common enough to hopefully get another go at!!
Regards
Rob
The OOF foreground leads my eye up to the bird, so I have no problem with that. The feathers in the water, coupled with the ruffled feathers of the lapwing seem to indicate to me that it has been having a good old preen, so I have no problem with them, either.
Leave as is for me.
Best wishes
Phil
I don't mind the feathers, the green foreground I find too dominant and distracting. I would put this one into the 'nearly but not quite bucket' and hope to try again some day. Without the green bit you would have had a decent portrait of this lovely bird.
My only other comment is the eye looks slightly soft. This might be due to using the 2x converter and shooting wide open. Have you considered adding a 1.6x crop body to your kit bag? This would allow you a similar amount of magnification but just requiring the use of a 1.4x TC which would improve image quality and gain you a stop of light. (Actually just slightly less magnification with a 1.6crop body but quite close).
cheers
Sean
Sean, are you serious about me considering perhaps a 20d/30d over a 1d2 to use a 1.4x over a 2x? I kinda see what you're saying but the 'nearly' the same focal lengths is 1120mm opposed to 1300mm and that's quite a lot in my eyes. To be honest, I don't particulary notice huge amounts of difference with the 1.4x and the 2x. The wider aperture factor is useful of course, but I'd never considered a higher crop factor body.... still won't actually...unless you persuade me (and my wife!)
Thanks again for the comments, Graeme
I would agree with you the 2x TC performs extremely well with the longer primes such as the 300 2.8 and 500 4.0 although for best results you should stop down the aperture a little. With this particular shot I think you could shoot at f11 and I this would just gain you a small improvement in image quality.
cheers
Sean
Good luck with the 30D
John
Looks like you got on well on your first visit to Slimbridge.
Although the Lapwings do come really close to the hides there,it isn't really an ideal location IMHO,because of the inability to get a decent low angle on them,although I know this isn't always necessary or desired.
Regarding the cloning of the green and feathers.Personally I wouldn't even consider it,way too much work involved, other photo oppurtunities with this species are bound to present themselves,hopefully when conditions are more suitable and favourable.