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razorbill

Discussion

9 replies
Posted by lewis phillips on May 1, 2008 at 7:28 AM
razorbill
alright chaps, I took this image recently at bempton and found the contrast when the sun was out was off putting, I dont like using flash with wildlife but could it make a difference if i were to use flash on ETTL when the sun was out or would it burn out the white plumage. Other than that it was a great spectical I have never visited a seabird colony and cant wait to visit more.

Cheers Lewis

canon mk11
100-400mm
5.6
iso200
:wavey:

Hello again why are the images that i am posting looking blocky
Posted by Paul Thomas on May 1, 2008 at 8:10 AM
Most birds totally ignore flash IME but I don't think it would have helped in this situation. Black and white birds are usually a challenge to get the exposure spot on in full sun. I suppose the easy answer is to wait until a cloud rolls by.

:toast:

Paul
Posted by Andy Shepherd on May 1, 2008 at 12:25 PM


Nice shot Lewis , like the pose :toast:

Andy... :smile:
Posted by Dave Courtenay on May 1, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Always a problem with bright sunny conditions-you have ok here though,the water behind is a cool colour but there are some artifacts due no doubt to compression

Dave
Posted by Robert Lawrence on May 1, 2008 at 3:37 PM
You may have lost a little detail in the whites Lewis but you have managed to show some eye detail (even without a catchlight) which I have found to be very difficult with these birds, so good on you for that. Nice pose too.
Robert
Posted by Mike Smith on May 1, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Lewis, I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but here is a direct comparison of the subtle differences that fill flash can make in direct sunlight to a high contrast subject. In the upper image the flash fired (-1 2/3EV) and lower image in same burst the flash didn't fire as it was recharging.

Canon gear, 550EX in high speed sync mode, raw files converted identically just saved as sRGB and resized and jpegged.


Provided you expose for the whites correctly to begin with the -ev adjustment only lifts the whites in shadow and leaves the bright whites intact. - it reduces the contrast subtly

Mike



Posted by Mike Smith on May 1, 2008 at 4:08 PM
and here is the 'mega' detail confirming flash firing and not in the eye catchlights
Posted by Paula Graham on May 1, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Interesting post.
Posted by Paul Inglis on May 2, 2008 at 4:05 AM
Hi Lewis,

Lovely capture! It's always difficult in bright sunny conditions to shoot these B+W birds but you made a nice job of it here! Nice pose!
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by lewis phillips on May 2, 2008 at 4:24 AM
thanks very much chaps :toast: :toast: