Bald Eagle (Immature) Environment

Another view of an Immature Bald Eagle possible second year but I'm not sure.

This is where I have trouble lifting the image the colours just don't help. That said My personal view reflects impact and strength of the subject how should I convey that message? Not convinced I'm getting the ISO right.

Canon 1D3 yes a tripod Canon 800mm canon 1.4x extender 1120mm ISO200
1/200sec f/8

Critique and advice more than welcome.

Thanks for looking

Barry

Eastbourne

Hi Barry,

It's another very impressive looking bird and the composition looks good for a shot of this type. The main thing this image needs is a levels adjustment. I don't know how familiar you are with levels and adjusting the histogram, but if you view the histogram for this image you will see a 'gap' on the right hand side. Move the right hand slider along and the image lifts noticeably. Here's some info on adjusting levels (found from a quick Google search):

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/photoshop-levels-1-2-3.html

The image might also benefit from a bit more colour saturation maybe, and perhaps a slight shadows lift.

Matt

I echo what Matt has said Barry. Its always a pain with a bird in twigs against a bland sky.
In Paint Shop Pro with this image I would use fill flash and backlight adjustment. Fill flash works well on the shadows without touching the lightr areas.Don't know what the photoshop equivalent woud be.
Cheers
JohnR

Hi Matt & John

I have tried the levels adjustment in respect of the histogram and I'm suspecting its my monitor setting to a large degree. Now the fill flash and backlight adjustment I think I should have introduced in lightroom. I'm not of the computer age so its all trial and error. This is what I have have achieved with the histogram.

Thanks Guy's I'll get there in a while throw enough mud at the wall and it starts to stick.

Barry

Nice shot Barry, the repost is a big improvement.

Andy...

The repost is a big improvement. It looks like it may have been a pretty dull day. If you are not to confident with adjusting colour temperatures in RAW, you could try setting your white balance on the camera to dull or cloudy.
Handsome fellow isn't he?
Eric

Taken a while chaps but I think the penny has dropped!!!

Barry

It took me longer than a while Barry

Andy...

Repost far better Barry.
It does take a while in fact I think it takes for ever as there is always something new to learn.

Major

Repost is much better.
@Matt
Good article about levels. It also helps me. Thanks.

Repost brings it up very nicely Barry. Like the background as it shows how well they blend in. Keep experimenting with colour temp and the histrogram levels and the bits people on here do in post-processing - easiest to learn by seeing what things to do an image

As others have said, the repost is much better Barry