Yellow Wagtail portrait

Trying a different approach to sharpening as detailed in this months NPN April article, start at 1200 pixels, sharpen filter twice (as opposed to unsharp filter) then resize to 720 pixels. Seems to work, not too much haloing evident.

Taken on the Berkshire Downs just after the Barn owl, car parked in a dip in barn area slightly below road level with a puddle opposite, so could get pretty well eye to eye from the car

Usual Oly birding kit, E-03, 300F2.8, 1.4 tc, bean bag, iso 400, cropped to remove ugly concrete road from bottom of image and sharpened as above.

Mike

Well Mike, I don't know if it is the new technique but this is most definitely sharp. Very nice portrait too. Looks a little bit over saturated on my monitor but that is just a nit and probably more to do with my screen.
Nice one
Robert

What a beautiful bird - haven't seen one so don't know about the colours. I wonder if it could do with a little less contrast perhaps?

It's certainly sharp Mike. I'll have to read the article and have a play around. You seem to be making wagtails a speciality ATM. Maybe you'll be lucky and get a Grey at Elan Valley and have the full set



Paul

Bit big in the frame for me, have been using a version of that technique for some time now, have found it better to just run the sharpen filter once.

Hi Mike,

Nice capture but a wee bit tight in the frame for my taste though! It is certainly sharp and Jim made a nice job of the Article I think!

Nice, sharp bird but for me too a little large for the frame, but that is easily remedied by creating a bigger frame in PS!!

Maybe a little tight in the frame but a cracking shot!

David

Wow, this is sharp, and that much detail!
perfect job Mike.
Greetings

Bertl Menegoni
Innsbruck
Austria

Hi Mike, I also found that technique gave some good results for small image sizes. Love the colours and detail, but also feels a bit tight on the right.

A wonderfully detailed shot Mike. maybe a little more to th right, but I like it.
Eric