I have been trying to improve my technique in capturing the feather details in dark and black feathers and white mix. At the moment I'm finding it somewhat difficult to master.
This full frame effort illustrates the dark issues I seem to get the darks but then blow the whites or the reverse. Are there any rule of thumb points to apply?
Canon 1D3 Canon 800mm on tripod in hide at feeding station.
Thanks for looking
Critique Advice Comments most welcome.
Posted by Scott Tilley on May 22, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Hi Barry. The only tip I can think of is that if this is a set up shot (judging by the seed where the bird is stood) Try and choose the place that will allow the camera not to have to work at extremes. Perhaps a perch which won't reflect the light etc. I suppose much the same as a traffic cone in the background would create a huge distraction. Anyway thats my bit there are lots more experienced photographers on the site who will be able to offer better advice.
It is obviously down to the lighting, and firstly at any of your feeding stations remove anything which will cause you any problems, particularly at the white end of the spectrum.
If your target species are black & white, or similar, then shoot them on an overcast/cloudy day, or when they are in shadow, backlighting can work as well.
Set your camera to bracketing, to cover your options, is another possibility. To give yourself a starting point, look for an area of mid tone, and take your base reading from that. If this isn’t possible then use a grey card, particularly if at a feeding station. I always carry a grey cloth, when folded up, it’s smaller than a mobile phone, forgotten its name, but if you are interested, then ask and I let you know, can’t do it now, I’m away from home.
Learn how to use/interpret your histogram, this will give you a wealth of information which you can use immediately, to adjust your cameras compensation.
I usually opt for exposing for the whites, and then you can work on the blacks later, as there will always be some detail within them. Go for the blacks, and if the whites are blown, then you’ve lost whatever detail was there.
Basically you have to work your light with regard to your subject. Either by its quality, or your position relative to the light source.
Discussion
2 repliesI have been trying to improve my technique in capturing the feather details in dark and black feathers and white mix. At the moment I'm finding it somewhat difficult to master.
This full frame effort illustrates the dark issues I seem to get the darks but then blow the whites or the reverse. Are there any rule of thumb points to apply?
Canon 1D3 Canon 800mm on tripod in hide at feeding station.
Thanks for looking
Critique Advice Comments most welcome.
Scott
It is obviously down to the lighting, and firstly at any of your feeding stations remove anything which will cause you any problems, particularly at the white end of the spectrum.
If your target species are black & white, or similar, then shoot them on an overcast/cloudy day, or when they are in shadow, backlighting can work as well.
Set your camera to bracketing, to cover your options, is another possibility. To give yourself a starting point, look for an area of mid tone, and take your base reading from that. If this isn’t possible then use a grey card, particularly if at a feeding station. I always carry a grey cloth, when folded up, it’s smaller than a mobile phone, forgotten its name, but if you are interested, then ask and I let you know, can’t do it now, I’m away from home.
Learn how to use/interpret your histogram, this will give you a wealth of information which you can use immediately, to adjust your cameras compensation.
I usually opt for exposing for the whites, and then you can work on the blacks later, as there will always be some detail within them. Go for the blacks, and if the whites are blown, then you’ve lost whatever detail was there.
Basically you have to work your light with regard to your subject. Either by its quality, or your position relative to the light source.
Good luck.