Posted by Ian McGuire on January 7, 2007 at 4:57 PM
Hi everyone and this is my long overdue debut to your excellent forum.
I am normally 'chasing' birds of prey to photograph, to use with my work as an owl conservationist, but as a lifetime hobbyist photographer, I'll pretty much shoot anything with a heartbeat!
I'm now looking forward to learning more from you all on this forum and getting valuable feedback on new pictures.
Although the above image was taken in the summer of 2003, I thought you might like to see it. It was taken on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Western Scotland and was my first trip to Scotland with a new EOS10D & 100-400 IS lens. For me it made the investment really worthwhile at the time.
It is the third in a series of 6 shots that show before and after feeding. I've always planned to send it around the market but never got around to it. I'd be interested to know if you think it would be worth sending around on it's own or the series..
If you don't mind, I'll post the 6th image in the series in a few days which shows the pipit standing on top of the cuckoo.
It has been cropped slightly and was taken on a very drab, cloudy day. Tech: 1/250 AV 5.6, ISO 160, EOS10D & 100-400 4.5-5.6 IS lens.
Posted by Rob Howard on January 7, 2007 at 5:54 PM
Hi Ian,
Firstly welcome to the forum .
A very good image to start of your account, that is unfortunatley slightly spoiled by the processing, but thankfully you can remedy this.
Looking at your techs you state ISO as 160? I think this may in actual fact be 1600 as there seems to be a lot of noise in the image but this can be sorted with programs such as noise ninja. It also appears to very contrasty and a tad over saturated again these can be fixed in CS2.
Please don't take these as negative comments as it is a very good image but just needs re processing
HTH
Regards
Rob
Posted by Ian McGuire on January 7, 2007 at 6:05 PM
Hi Rob and really appreciate the feedback. I think I could have done a much better job - if only I knew what I was doing! I am 'auto' man most of the time.
I've kept the originals on the memory card all this time and so will have to tap up someone to get better results.
Posted by Rob Howard on January 7, 2007 at 6:50 PM
Hi Ian,
This is such a good image that I've had a 10 minute play with it in CS2. I hope you don't mind
I've just taken pretty much all the contrast, adjusted levels and curves give it six rounds of USM and reduced the noise a little.
Given some time, you should bring it up alot better than this and when you do it will be a stonker.
Regards
Rob
Posted by Vincent Jones on January 7, 2007 at 7:47 PM
Hi Ian, hope all is well, I also would like to welcome you to a great forum . The experience on here & the honest approach to critique is second to non.
Seeing this Pipit feeding this Cuckoo must have been a great experience, I envy you!
With regards to it being your first post, I do echo what Rob's already mentioned, to get this shot & others, I do take my hat off to you.
It may not be technically perfect but it is a stunner.... Rob little rework shows what is possible and I'm sure that given a bit of time and experience you will be able to process a super image....
Hello Ian
A warm welcome from me too.
As Phil says, it may not be technically perfect, but its content is stunning. I'm sure that a few months of reading and offering critique on this site will help you hone your processing skills.
Best wishes
Phil
Posted by Ian McGuire on January 8, 2007 at 4:58 AM
Thanks chaps and I really appreciate your warm welcome and valuable comments.
I guess any new member that sticks his head above the parapet first time will be nervous, as I am in such experienced company, but I can see straight away how much I can learn from you all.
If you'll forgive me, I'll post a second image from this experience tonight and will have a play with the levels beforehand and see what you think.
On reflection, I think I did actually choose the worst-processed one to start with - after that, I promise to send only new stuff!!!
Ian
Posted by John Chapman on January 8, 2007 at 7:35 AM
Hi Ian
welcome to the Forum. I will be looking forward to your next Posting.
John
Aberdeen.
Posted by Mark sellings on January 8, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Hi ian,
Welcome to the forum - dream subject maybe let down by the post-processing - looking forward to the next ones...
cheers
Mark
Posted by Tim Munsey on January 8, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Wow, what an amazing experience that must have been, thanks for sharing your pic and welcome.
Rob's done a good job on processing yours was definately over cooked contrast and saturation wise.
Great shot though.
Discussion
10 repliesI am normally 'chasing' birds of prey to photograph, to use with my work as an owl conservationist, but as a lifetime hobbyist photographer, I'll pretty much shoot anything with a heartbeat!
I'm now looking forward to learning more from you all on this forum and getting valuable feedback on new pictures.
Although the above image was taken in the summer of 2003, I thought you might like to see it. It was taken on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Western Scotland and was my first trip to Scotland with a new EOS10D & 100-400 IS lens. For me it made the investment really worthwhile at the time.
It is the third in a series of 6 shots that show before and after feeding. I've always planned to send it around the market but never got around to it. I'd be interested to know if you think it would be worth sending around on it's own or the series..
If you don't mind, I'll post the 6th image in the series in a few days which shows the pipit standing on top of the cuckoo.
It has been cropped slightly and was taken on a very drab, cloudy day. Tech: 1/250 AV 5.6, ISO 160, EOS10D & 100-400 4.5-5.6 IS lens.
Firstly welcome to the forum
A very good image to start of your account, that is unfortunatley slightly spoiled by the processing, but thankfully you can remedy this.
Looking at your techs you state ISO as 160? I think this may in actual fact be 1600 as there seems to be a lot of noise in the image but this can be sorted with programs such as noise ninja. It also appears to very contrasty and a tad over saturated again these can be fixed in CS2.
Please don't take these as negative comments as it is a very good image but just needs re processing
HTH
Regards
Rob
I've kept the originals on the memory card all this time and so will have to tap up someone to get better results.
This is such a good image that I've had a 10 minute play with it in CS2. I hope you don't mind
I've just taken pretty much all the contrast, adjusted levels and curves give it six rounds of USM and reduced the noise a little.
Given some time, you should bring it up alot better than this and when you do it will be a stonker.
Regards
Rob
Seeing this Pipit feeding this Cuckoo must have been a great experience, I envy you!
With regards to it being your first post, I do echo what Rob's already mentioned, to get this shot & others, I do take my hat off to you.
Look forward to seeing more images
Vince
A warm welcome from me too.
As Phil says, it may not be technically perfect, but its content is stunning. I'm sure that a few months of reading and offering critique on this site will help you hone your processing skills.
Best wishes
Phil
I guess any new member that sticks his head above the parapet first time will be nervous, as I am in such experienced company, but I can see straight away how much I can learn from you all.
If you'll forgive me, I'll post a second image from this experience tonight and will have a play with the levels beforehand and see what you think.
On reflection, I think I did actually choose the worst-processed one to start with - after that, I promise to send only new stuff!!!
Ian
welcome to the Forum. I will be looking forward to your next Posting.
John
Aberdeen.
Welcome to the forum - dream subject maybe let down by the post-processing - looking forward to the next ones...
cheers
Mark
Rob's done a good job on processing yours was definately over cooked contrast and saturation wise.
Great shot though.
Tim