Hello, I am a long time watcher on this site and have decided to take the plunge. I was, a long time ago a newspaper photographer back in the 60’s and 70’s, Nikon Fs, Tri Ex, D76 and all that for the older members among you. Back then 500 mm lenses came in two boxes and one assembled them on site. I am in awe of the kit that is now available, 400 asa (iso) was fast film when I was working, to have the luxury of an iso speed of a 1000 plus in amazing.
I then gave that up to run a charter fishing boat out of Essex. I retired from the boat 12 years ago. I live a mile from the sea on the Essex marshes. I am not an avid bird watcher but enjoy all wild life.
With the government aided decline in fish stocks, hunting with a camera seems the next best thing, I cant eat the results but I can spend many nights trying to get the bloody things to look right on the monitor!
Taking wild life pix is a very much like fishing, being in the right time at the right place and knowing the habits of the target, fish are infinitely easier.
I have always felt that to get the picture is the first priority, if the shot is good enough it stand-alone. I do admire though pictures that are technically excellent , oh that I could take a few more!
Well enough of that, this is my first post, a little owl, one of a family I made friends with last summer.
Hi Bob
Welcome aboard, Nice sharp image to kick off with,Looks a bit over saturated and there are a few dust bunnies there but great on the eyes
Dave
Posted by tony flashman on February 4, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Hi Bob,
Great detail on the bird but the overall image is a bit gaudy, the over saturated colours detract from the bird.
Look forward to seeing more of your work. Its nice to have more people on board from the "old school"
Ah, another old ****. My first camera was an EL, followed by an F3, and then there was K25 – K64 etc. the good old days, which weren't really that good, just different. Just retired my back pack for a trolley, if you know what I mean.
Wow, now this really does hit you between the eyes, I would suggest toning down the saturation and a tad smaller in the frame (cropped tail), of yes, clone out the second catch light in each eye. The detail is really exceptional, but you already knew that.
Finally here... thats good news, now about the part that says max 720 pixels on the largest side
Posted by Lee Newman on February 4, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Welcome Bob.
The details in the owl are spot on & the eyes are superb. Nits already covered & look forward to seeing more images.
Lee
Posted by Dave Bartlett on February 4, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Welcome to the site. Nit covered. Nice eyes !!
Dave
Posted by Graeme Lee on February 4, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Welcome Bob, nice and sharp and VERY COLOURFUL!!!
Posted by jack chapman on February 4, 2009 at 5:01 PM
nice shot, the pose and setting are lovely, can't work out the colours though
Posted by Ian Mason on February 4, 2009 at 6:11 PM
The eyes are just stunning! Agree about the colours. Look forward to seeing more images.
Posted by Dawn Monrose on February 5, 2009 at 4:31 AM
Welcome!
Nice first post, I agree with all the points covered so far, good detail and sharpness on the bird, shame about the colours, looks a bit like he's in a nightclub with that funky blue backlighting!!
Thanks All for your welcome and comments. The L/O I posted is one of those shots that I keep going back to, I like the picture but find it a very difficult one to process; fix one area and another two look wrong! Would love to send the raw to an expert just to see what can be done with such an image. I have had another go at it ,here are the results, less night cubbish I hope though I don’t know what sort of night clubs you go to Dawn.
Discussion
17 repliesI then gave that up to run a charter fishing boat out of Essex. I retired from the boat 12 years ago. I live a mile from the sea on the Essex marshes. I am not an avid bird watcher but enjoy all wild life.
With the government aided decline in fish stocks, hunting with a camera seems the next best thing, I cant eat the results but I can spend many nights trying to get the bloody things to look right on the monitor!
Taking wild life pix is a very much like fishing, being in the right time at the right place and knowing the habits of the target, fish are infinitely easier.
I have always felt that to get the picture is the first priority, if the shot is good enough it stand-alone. I do admire though pictures that are technically excellent , oh that I could take a few more!
Well enough of that, this is my first post, a little owl, one of a family I made friends with last summer.
Canon 20D 1/40/f4 –ISO 200 – 600mm f4 IS Canon. Tripod
Welcome aboard, Nice sharp image to kick off with,Looks a bit over saturated and there are a few dust bunnies there but great on the eyes
Dave
Great detail on the bird but the overall image is a bit gaudy, the over saturated colours detract from the bird.
Look forward to seeing more of your work. Its nice to have more people on board from the "old school"
Tony
Wow, now this really does hit you between the eyes, I would suggest toning down the saturation and a tad smaller in the frame (cropped tail), of yes, clone out the second catch light in each eye. The detail is really exceptional, but you already knew that.
Will look out for more of your posts
The details in the owl are spot on & the eyes are superb. Nits already covered & look forward to seeing more images.
Lee
Dave
Nice first post, I agree with all the points covered so far, good detail and sharpness on the bird, shame about the colours, looks a bit like he's in a nightclub with that funky blue backlighting!!
Look forward to seeing more of you photos!
Best wishes
Phil
Looking forward to more and I'm going to pretend that I don't remember the good old days
welcome to the club
The eye contact is a hammer.
Greetings from Innsbruck,
Bertl
Brett
lea