Posted by Barry Southon on January 9, 2009 at 7:04 AM
At least I think it is a RLH what I was trying to achieve was a photographers eye view as seen from behind the camera. So many times these hawks are sitting high on a power line pole. To find one that is sitting at eye level is the exception. Sod's law puts the sun in the wrong position, the shadows in the forefront. Rather than miss the opportunity grab the shot was my thinking. Taken from vehicle used as hide and hand held.
Canon 1D3 Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L USM RAW 1/1600 sec at f/5.6 ISO 200 at 800mm. into lightroom and PS4 to re size for posting. I have tweaked a bit to try and lift the image but I didn't want to over do it.
Critique and Advice most welcome. Thanks for looking.
Very commendable that you achieved a useable image considering you are handholding such a powerful lens Barry. However, I find the heavy vignetting quite intrusive and the image itself is quite dark (on this works monitor). I like the composition.
Robert
Posted by John Robinson on January 9, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Yes I reckon this could take a lot more brightness and contrast or just plain gamma.
Nice shot with good potential.
JR
Posted by Andrew Stagg on January 9, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Barry,
As Robert said commendable holding an 800mm lens in your hands.
I have had a quick 'go' at the jpg, from the site:
There is a lot of room to play with the image in LR both on the exposure and the vignetting.
(hope you don't mind the tweaks)
Best
Andrew Stagg
Posted by David Sewell on January 9, 2009 at 9:06 AM
For hand held, using a 800mm this is excellent, but I do agree with the others that it it needs the brightness lifted.
David
Posted by Mike Smith on January 9, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Has the vignetting effect been added in PS or is this a lens characteristic - if the latter at F5.6 looks like a defect issue
Posted by Barry Southon on January 9, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Interesting points raised I guess I was trying not to blow the whites with the strong light on the right. I've been delving deeper into the PP which just amazes me with what can be done. I much prefer to keep the actual environment as close to the as shot state. I was attempting to lift the shadows but failing.
The area I tend to search for raptors is vast and a hide is not viable hence the use of a vehicle. Often probably 90% of the time it can be a passing encounter which provides no time for set up or tripod. Even the click of the door will spook the subject. I'm sure you will know what I mean. I'm opportunistic rather planned in my missions. Maybe that's also where I'm failing.
Thanks for the imput.
Barry
Posted by Barry Southon on January 9, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Mike
I added the vignetting effect in PS comes with playing with things you don't understand..
Barry
Posted by Rob Howard on January 9, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Hi Barry,
If this was taken in the States could it be a Red Tailed Buzzard??? Anyway, nits mentioned and would be worth trying to lift it. Also I do 80% of my photography from a vehicle, treat yourself to a double bean bag from wildlife watching supplies, leave it on the wound down window ledge, then when you stop plonk your lens on it, I drive an auto so on private roads, I leave the camera on the bean bag whilst holding it with my other hand, the beauty of doing that is you can pull up to your target and your ready to go.
Regards
Rob
Posted by Barry Southon on January 9, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Rob
Yes it was taken in Kansas seems to have rather a lot of white for a Red Tailed Hawk but I'm no expert. Also there seems to be an increasing white influence in a number of species over the last few years. Reports are far more frequent of late even to the extent of a total white hawk sighted and photographed in the company of Red tailed hawks last week.
I'll try locating a bean bag could be a great help.
Barry
Posted by Lee Newman on January 10, 2009 at 12:04 PM
All nits covered but a nicely composed image of a great looking bird. Hand held with 800mm is impressive.
Vignetting apart, still a good capture just needs lifting.
You did well hand holding a 800, it is possible to support a camera/lens in a car using either a tripod, window mount or bean bag.
Re Photoshop, always work on a copy of your original, if you just starting to learn about Photoshop, then there are a variety of options open to you, including tutorial DVD’s.
Posted by Magnus Hird on January 10, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Barry the setting and comp are great. Agree with the comments about the vignetting, but in terms of lightening the image I'd personally try and be selective with it as that dark broody sky is something special
Discussion
12 repliesCanon 1D3 Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L USM RAW 1/1600 sec at f/5.6 ISO 200 at 800mm. into lightroom and PS4 to re size for posting. I have tweaked a bit to try and lift the image but I didn't want to over do it.
Critique and Advice most welcome. Thanks for looking.
Barry
Eastbourne / Kansas
Robert
Nice shot with good potential.
JR
As Robert said commendable holding an 800mm lens in your hands.
I have had a quick 'go' at the jpg, from the site:
http://www.ims-photo.com/npn/hwk.jpg
There is a lot of room to play with the image in LR both on the exposure and the vignetting.
(hope you don't mind the tweaks)
Best
Andrew Stagg
David
The area I tend to search for raptors is vast and a hide is not viable hence the use of a vehicle. Often probably 90% of the time it can be a passing encounter which provides no time for set up or tripod. Even the click of the door will spook the subject. I'm sure you will know what I mean. I'm opportunistic rather planned in my missions. Maybe that's also where I'm failing.
Thanks for the imput.
Barry
I added the vignetting effect in PS comes with playing with things you don't understand..
Barry
If this was taken in the States could it be a Red Tailed Buzzard??? Anyway, nits mentioned and would be worth trying to lift it. Also I do 80% of my photography from a vehicle, treat yourself to a double bean bag from wildlife watching supplies, leave it on the wound down window ledge, then when you stop plonk your lens on it, I drive an auto so on private roads, I leave the camera on the bean bag whilst holding it with my other hand, the beauty of doing that is you can pull up to your target and your ready to go.
Regards
Rob
Yes it was taken in Kansas seems to have rather a lot of white for a Red Tailed Hawk but I'm no expert. Also there seems to be an increasing white influence in a number of species over the last few years. Reports are far more frequent of late even to the extent of a total white hawk sighted and photographed in the company of Red tailed hawks last week.
I'll try locating a bean bag could be a great help.
Barry
Lee
You did well hand holding a 800, it is possible to support a camera/lens in a car using either a tripod, window mount or bean bag.
Re Photoshop, always work on a copy of your original, if you just starting to learn about Photoshop, then there are a variety of options open to you, including tutorial DVD’s.