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Grey Squirrel from today

Discussion

20 replies
Posted by Andy Astbury on February 8, 2008 at 4:51 PM
One from today.

Still not quite what I'm after, and the tiffs look a lot better than this jpeg does - I can't seem to stop the BG from going too black on compression.

Taken at 4.15pm today with multiple SB800's + SU800 I've made an error in fill placement (too low) but you live and learn!

Camera fired from 25 feet with a Seculine IRC - this 'blind framming' is hard!

Techs

D300+Sig 120-300mm @ 220mm
ISO400
Manual Exp 1/400 @ f5.6

PP Bibble Pro + CS3 - Full frame

Thanks for looking folks, appreciated always :toast: :toast:
Posted by jack chapman on February 8, 2008 at 5:26 PM
i quite like the lighting and dark bg

it does seem quite noisy or something in a wide band around the squirrel and the log, perhaps due to compression
Posted by Andy Astbury on February 8, 2008 at 5:51 PM
You've shocked me Jack - it looks just right here - I wouldn't have posted it otherwise, and I calibrated my monitor less than 1 hour ago, so if anyone else can see the same fault please let me know and I can start to panic!
Posted by Paul Hillion on February 8, 2008 at 6:23 PM
What a cracker of a shot Andy :toast: The sharpness of the squirrel's eye really does capture your attention and the lighting looks spot on to my fairly inexperienced eye, very impressed! I think I can see what Jack mentions above but too be honest to see any evidence of noise in the BG, and I'm not sure it's even noise, I have to have my eyes virtually up against my (also just calibrated) screen.

:toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by jacqui on February 9, 2008 at 3:13 AM
Hi Andy....

I dont want you to panic.... but I can also see the noise around the squirrel and the log ..
(on my calibrated screen)

Jacqui
Posted by Mark Fellowes on February 9, 2008 at 3:24 AM
Looks great to me - great comp and detail - that tail is fantasic! It looks as if you've really got to grips with the flash set up.

:toast: :toast:

Mark
Posted by Barry Southon on February 9, 2008 at 4:13 AM
Andy

Looks fine to me on my new uncalibrated screen. Can't hear a thing no noise.

I really like these dark backgrounds it sets the subject on higher level imho.

Barry :wink:

Eastbourne :wink:
Posted by Tim Munsey on February 9, 2008 at 4:14 AM
Beautiful capture Andy, love the light and comp. A flash genius eh.

:toast: :toast: :toast:

Tim
Posted by Malcolm Muir on February 9, 2008 at 6:13 AM
Lovely image Andy - on my uncalibrated Dell 24 there is no sign of noise. Lighting is excellent.

Malcolm :toast: :toast:
Posted by Guy Rogers on February 9, 2008 at 6:40 AM
Hello Andy .
Super shot and looks great on my monitor which is calibrated. No sign of noise. :wavey:
Posted by Barrie Courtenay on February 9, 2008 at 6:59 AM
Superb shot Andy,plenty detail in the shadows,perfect exposure

:toast: :toast:
Posted by jacqui on February 9, 2008 at 7:14 AM
Guess it could have been dust on my screen as I cant see it now


:confused:
Posted by Paul Inglis on February 9, 2008 at 8:27 AM
Hi Andy,

This is superb flash work here. I have looked at this image for the last hour on three different monitors – all calibrated. I don’t see any noise – however there is a very subtle variance in output between each monitor. I believe the use of flash, the dark BG and sharpening has produced an unusual effect around the subject and the log – Compression hasn’t helped to much either. Just my thought mind! :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Cracking composition with excellent detail and superb lighting. Wished it was my image! :wink: :wink: :wink:

:toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Andy Astbury on February 9, 2008 at 8:49 AM
You are spot-on there Paul, it's very peculiar as on both my monitors the parent 8 bit tiffs look great with subtle tonal variations in the BG, which is mottled black and deep green. Even down sized at 8 bit the tiffs still look good.

I think it's just jpeg compression that screwing them up, especially with an sRGB profile, that's why this is in Adobe RGB 1998 (at least it should be! :biggrin: ).Not ideal for the web but it does look better than the normal profile.

Cheers for the input Paul :toast:
Posted by Craig Nash on February 9, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Very Nice Andy do you find the seculine a good piece of kit as I am thinking of getting one.
Posted by PhilH on February 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Andy

Thats nice and a pleasure to view... I'm on a calibrated system and everything looks fine...

:toast: :wavey: :toast:
Posted by Sanford Dickerson on February 9, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Like everyone else, I think this is a terrific shot. Most squirrel shots are just so cliche' This is one of the best ones I have ever seen. :toast:
Posted by David Taylor on February 9, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Yes a great shot. Plenty of space on the left for text, if the opportunity arises. :smile:
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Graeme Lee on February 9, 2008 at 4:18 PM
On my £20 crappy uncalibrated CRT monitor it looks just fine :wink:

It looks great in fact!! Top shot Andy :toast:
Posted by Andy Shepherd on February 9, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Hi Andy,

Like it lots , not bad comp either for blind framing :toast:

Regards

Andy... :smile:
Posted by Andy Astbury on February 10, 2008 at 4:21 AM
Thanks for the input folks - always helpful, always gratefully received :toast: :toast: