Posted by Ian Butler on September 25, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Hi everyone
I've had the good fortune of having a Snow Bunting within a mile of where I live recently. All in all, I've spent about 13 hours with this individual over three evenings. It's fascinating to watch it going about its daily routines. I can almost predict what its going to do next. I thought i'd just go for a plain portrait first of all.
This is one is from a very cloudy sunless sky so I tried it with flash. This is the first time i've really used flash and have been pleased with the results. I really like the subdued background.
I would welcome any comments on this regards to the flash use, whether it can be seen or whether it doesnt work.
Regards
Ian
Canon 40D
Canon 500mm F4 L IS
Canon 550 EX flashgun @ -1/3 TTL
ISO 320
1/250sec @ f/6.3
Tv mode
Posted by Craig Jones on September 25, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Lovely detail in this really nice portrait of these beautiful birds,like the portrait format,very nice
Posted by Liam Pauling on September 26, 2009 at 1:14 AM
Cracking shot, the background is perfect.
Posted by Tim Munsey on September 26, 2009 at 2:28 AM
What a splendid photo, a real cracker.
Tim
Posted by Rob Fisher on September 26, 2009 at 3:16 AM
Nice portrait Ian,
I saw this little fella was around, may see you up there is if it's still around this evening.
I'm new to using flash as well so this topic is really useful. The bird is portrayed beautifully. I'd say you can see a little use of flash due to the brightness of the head and the eye but as mentioned it's very subtle and not obvious. The Bunting doesn't look bothered at all.
Out of interest, did you use any kind of diffuser, or just plain pointing the flashgun straight at the subject?
Chris
Posted by Deborah Armour on September 26, 2009 at 7:14 AM
Like this lots, especially the amount of space above funnily enough. Looks like you just got the perfect amount of flash on it. Most chase these in our area this winter.
Nice shot, but for me the flash is rather obvious, but I would agree that to most they either wouldn’t care or notice.
What gives it away to me is the lack of shadow on the underside of the bunting and rock. Shadows are natural and to my mind gives both depth and perspective to an image, and at the extreme the lack of any shadows gives, what I once read, a porcelain/featureless end result.
As I said, a nice shot, but I would suggest having the flash higher and more off centre to the camera.
Carl
Posted by Chris Lloyd on September 26, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Love this Ian - particularly that inky blue BG sets this off perfectly. I must get some better footage of these.
C.
Posted by jack chapman on September 27, 2009 at 6:50 AM
lovely image, flash is just right to my eye
Posted by Lee Newman on September 27, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Nice one Ian. You have captured the bird in a nice pose here. Nice perch, bg & comp too.
not been an expert I would not have known just by looking that you had used flash.
Nice one with a very nice comp.... might have reduced the flash a bit more.... in the days of film the compensation you have used was the norm, but digital seems to have taken the norm down to around -2.....
Posted by Ian Butler on September 28, 2009 at 5:51 AM
hi everyone
Thanks to everyone who has posted on this. Its been an interesting discussion. I thought I would include a photo that was taken when the flash did not fire for reference. It was a case of using a slight amount of flash here as there was 100% cloud cover and all the images looked drab. Like I said, it was the first time i'd used flash and was surprised with the lack of steel eye in the photos. Any body know why this was?
Just a big thanks to the people of this forum and the forum itself. I'm glad I joined and its paying dividends with my current photography! its always good to get a second opinion!
Discussion
12 repliesI've had the good fortune of having a Snow Bunting within a mile of where I live recently. All in all, I've spent about 13 hours with this individual over three evenings. It's fascinating to watch it going about its daily routines. I can almost predict what its going to do next. I thought i'd just go for a plain portrait first of all.
This is one is from a very cloudy sunless sky so I tried it with flash. This is the first time i've really used flash and have been pleased with the results. I really like the subdued background.
I would welcome any comments on this regards to the flash use, whether it can be seen or whether it doesnt work.
Regards
Ian
Canon 40D
Canon 500mm F4 L IS
Canon 550 EX flashgun @ -1/3 TTL
ISO 320
1/250sec @ f/6.3
Tv mode
Tim
I saw this little fella was around, may see you up there is if it's still around this evening.
Flash is subtle - ie. spot on.
Rob
I'm new to using flash as well so this topic is really useful. The bird is portrayed beautifully. I'd say you can see a little use of flash due to the brightness of the head and the eye but as mentioned it's very subtle and not obvious. The Bunting doesn't look bothered at all.
Out of interest, did you use any kind of diffuser, or just plain pointing the flashgun straight at the subject?
Chris
Nice shot, but for me the flash is rather obvious, but I would agree that to most they either wouldn’t care or notice.
What gives it away to me is the lack of shadow on the underside of the bunting and rock. Shadows are natural and to my mind gives both depth and perspective to an image, and at the extreme the lack of any shadows gives, what I once read, a porcelain/featureless end result.
As I said, a nice shot, but I would suggest having the flash higher and more off centre to the camera.
Carl
C.
not been an expert I would not have known just by looking that you had used flash.
Lee
Thanks to everyone who has posted on this. Its been an interesting discussion. I thought I would include a photo that was taken when the flash did not fire for reference. It was a case of using a slight amount of flash here as there was 100% cloud cover and all the images looked drab. Like I said, it was the first time i'd used flash and was surprised with the lack of steel eye in the photos. Any body know why this was?
Just a big thanks to the people of this forum and the forum itself. I'm glad I joined and its paying dividends with my current photography!
Thanks again
Ian