A different plumage than normally seen here, this is juvenile Arctic Skua resting on the beach in southern Sweden.
We have had a few storms lately in Scandinavia, and it has brought all kind of interesting seabirds a shore. This Skua was busy harassing the local gulls.
20D + 500/4 + tc1.4; iso 400, f6.3, 1/250. Almost full frame.
Posted by Graeme Lee on November 7, 2006 at 5:38 PM
Very nice shot indeed Helge. Shame no catchlight but excellent exposure. Also a shame it wasn't standing on the pebble right behind it, would have had feet and all, but can't always have it all I s'pose. I very rarely get any of it
Graeme
Posted by Sean Bolton on November 7, 2006 at 5:45 PM
Hi Helge
This is a good shot of the Skua, I like the low angle and the rocky beach. Background sky is a bit drab but not a lot you can do about that.
I would say this image looks very flat, probably due to being taken in very soft light with no contrast. I think you need to tweak the levels/curves to get the best out of this shot. Maybe some fill flash would have helped too (if possible or desirable) to help lift the colour and detail in the bird.
cheers
Sean
Posted by John Chapman on November 7, 2006 at 6:15 PM
Hi Helge
the bird is very nice a pity about the bland sky
John
Aberdeen
Posted by David Kjaer on November 8, 2006 at 5:58 AM
Hi Helge
Nice shot - agree with Sean that there is more in this image you can bring out in levels/curves and I would also enhance the light in the top half of the eye!
David
Posted by John Gardner on November 8, 2006 at 6:57 AM
I think this is a fine image and I'm a fan of soft light. having said that I do think there is more in the RAW file that could be pulled out to make it a really good portrait.
Thanks for the comment guys.... I think you are right, I will have to work a bit more with it. That said, when you see these young skuas in real life, they are terribly dark (function to scare the gulls), and most of the time you really can't tell the eye. I felt I was already doing this bird a bit to the light side. But I'll retry
Posted by Philip Kirkham on November 8, 2006 at 11:19 AM
Hello Helge
I must admit, I have never even seen one of these, so yes, I am jealous!
I like your image, and agree with the guys about bringing out a bit more in curves, I wonder if it might stand a wee bit more sharpening too?
Best wishes
Phil
A slightly lightened version (thanks to David for showing me the way!):
Does it work better ?
Posted by Sean Bolton on November 8, 2006 at 4:01 PM
Hi Helge
The Skua is shown slightly better but I still feel this is overall a very flat image and really needs some oomph to the levels or curves. Particularly the rocks just look overexposed and lacking in contrast.
I hope you don't mind but I thought I would download your image and tweak it. You may not agree but at least you can see what I am talking about. All I have done is adjust the levels and curves on selected parts of the image. The pebbles and rocks and then the Skua. The Skua is quite tricky as I am not sure on the colour here and although I have not adjusted the colours in any way the levels adjustment has an effect.
Food for thought even if you are not keen on my version.
Your version is much better, in particular the stones, which I agree were overexposed in my version. Interesting that you apply levels/curves on selective part of the pic. I always do it on all or nothing... I guess I have to take a course in PS, as I find these tveaks very difficult.
cheers, Helge
Posted by Sean Bolton on November 8, 2006 at 6:02 PM
Hi Helge
To selectively adjust part of an image do the following ;
1. Select the lasso tool
2. Set the feathering to about 20
3. Roughly draw around the area to adjust
4. Apply adjustments (which will only be within the selected area)
This is a very simple but effective method of doing selective adjustments to an image which is very useful in some circumstances.
Thanks Sean, that sounds like a good function, I will try it right away. With that new method I think can find a load of old photos to redo, I am going to be very busy....
Interesting bird and well captured, like the rocky setting...
Sean, Helge.... to stop a levels or curves adjustment having an effect on the colours in the image simply use an adjustment layer set to luminosity, or if you haven't used an adjust,ment layer you can bring up the Fade dialogue and set the fade to luminosity, only the contrast/ luminance of the image will be affected not the colours..
Discussion
14 repliesWe have had a few storms lately in Scandinavia, and it has brought all kind of interesting seabirds a shore. This Skua was busy harassing the local gulls.
20D + 500/4 + tc1.4; iso 400, f6.3, 1/250. Almost full frame.
Graeme
This is a good shot of the Skua, I like the low angle and the rocky beach. Background sky is a bit drab but not a lot you can do about that.
I would say this image looks very flat, probably due to being taken in very soft light with no contrast. I think you need to tweak the levels/curves to get the best out of this shot. Maybe some fill flash would have helped too (if possible or desirable) to help lift the colour and detail in the bird.
cheers
Sean
the bird is very nice a pity about the bland sky
John
Aberdeen
Nice shot - agree with Sean that there is more in this image you can bring out in levels/curves and I would also enhance the light in the top half of the eye!
David
John
I must admit, I have never even seen one of these, so yes, I am jealous!
I like your image, and agree with the guys about bringing out a bit more in curves, I wonder if it might stand a wee bit more sharpening too?
Best wishes
Phil
Does it work better ?
The Skua is shown slightly better but I still feel this is overall a very flat image and really needs some oomph to the levels or curves. Particularly the rocks just look overexposed and lacking in contrast.
I hope you don't mind but I thought I would download your image and tweak it. You may not agree but at least you can see what I am talking about. All I have done is adjust the levels and curves on selected parts of the image. The pebbles and rocks and then the Skua. The Skua is quite tricky as I am not sure on the colour here and although I have not adjusted the colours in any way the levels adjustment has an effect.
Food for thought even if you are not keen on my version.
cheers
Sean
Your version is much better, in particular the stones, which I agree were overexposed in my version. Interesting that you apply levels/curves on selective part of the pic. I always do it on all or nothing... I guess I have to take a course in PS, as I find these tveaks very difficult.
cheers, Helge
To selectively adjust part of an image do the following ;
1. Select the lasso tool
2. Set the feathering to about 20
3. Roughly draw around the area to adjust
4. Apply adjustments (which will only be within the selected area)
This is a very simple but effective method of doing selective adjustments to an image which is very useful in some circumstances.
cheers
Sean
Cheers, Helge
Yes, I like Sean's version, it does improve the overall image.
Best wishes
Phil
Interesting bird and well captured, like the rocky setting...
Sean, Helge.... to stop a levels or curves adjustment having an effect on the colours in the image simply use an adjustment layer set to luminosity, or if you haven't used an adjust,ment layer you can bring up the Fade dialogue and set the fade to luminosity, only the contrast/ luminance of the image will be affected not the colours..
HTH
All the best