Posted by Fran French on November 29, 2009 at 11:25 AM
It has been a week or so since I last posted or commented sorry, but I have been busy one way or the other.
I was unsure about going out today, but decided I would regret it if I didn't, and how right I was. I found this kestrel perched beautifully in a tree, and then it moved to another just as the sun showed briefly after the rain. I filled my card, and came away a very happy bunny, after spending at least half an hour with it.There are a number of water droplets on the bird which were nice, but sadly you cannot see them at this size.
There was a point when it got so close that I managed a few portrait shots as well
40D,300mmf4 +1.4, ISO 100,f5.6, 1/500, +1/3. A few offending twigs removed bottom right.
Fran
Posted by Liam Pauling on November 29, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Lovely image Fran, they are not easy to get close too so well done, I would be very happy with something like this.
liam.
Posted by Guy Rogers on November 29, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Hello Fran.
Never easy these and you've done a good job.
I keep trying to get a decent image of one of these but as of yet it just hasnt happened.
Posted by Kim Connolly on November 29, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Hi Fran, Nice shot, good detail, certainly worth your trip out on a rainy old day; like everyone else I find it difficult to get close to these birds.
Posted by Craig Jones on November 29, 2009 at 1:12 PM
There is always something that turns up Fran Love the composition and catchlight set of lovely with the BG
Posted by keith mitchell on November 29, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Hi Fran.
They certainly are not easy ,bet your pleased with this i certainly would be,very nice.
Keith.
Posted by Iain Tookey on November 29, 2009 at 2:18 PM
That's a cracking shot, and you look to have nailed the exposure as well.
The 'semi-wet' look of this one adds to the interest in my opinion too.
Posted by Major Gilbert on November 29, 2009 at 2:22 PM
A very pleasing image Fran and well worth the effort. Dodging the showers was the name of the game today.
Major.
Posted by Matt Cole on November 29, 2009 at 2:47 PM
a very nice shot Fran, well taken. I bet you were very chuffed after this encounter.
Matt
Posted by Ben Gardner on November 29, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Good image but appears slightly soft on my screen, but could just be my rubbish laptop screen.
Posted by David Sewell on November 29, 2009 at 3:06 PM
You found a clear blue sky? You did well, even without the kestrel! I had a good day with them as well, but would have loved to get one on a natural perch like this. Looks nice and sharp on my screen.
Nits covered Fran, but well done for getting the shot, might have been tempted to up the ISO to help with shutter speed and reduce any camera shake
Posted by Phil Shaw on November 30, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I'm afraid it doesn't look like a critically sharp image on my screen either.
There may be a number of reasons for this. I don't think it is a case of insufficient sharpening for presentation, although the additional contrast from an additional round of sharpening might harden it up a bit. We don't know whether a tripod was used to capture the image so camera movement, or subject movement in the wind may be be a possible cause. In both instances, increasing the shutter speed may have helped. However, using the 300/f4 + 1.4x combination at f5.6 is going to guarantee the softest image possible. In my opinion, the 1.4x should not be used wide open. I have never had satisfactory results wide open and would recommend f8 to f11 as being the optimum range with an f4 lens an APS-C type sensor camera body. This image could easily have been shot with a smaller aperture as the iso selected was 100.
This may all sound a bit harsh and negative. If so I apologise; my hope is that some analysis may help you and others reading the forum to get better images in the future.
I very rarely, if ever, use iso 100, and I wonder why this was selected in this case. Of course it could have been a mistake: all too easily made if you get caught up in the shooting and stop thinking about exactly what it is that you doing - happens to everyone.
If trying to optimise image quality in terms of absence of noise and maximum dynamic range, the available data suggest that the lowest noise on the 40D is obtained at iso 160, and that there is little noise penalty up to iso 640. So a smaller aperture and a higher shutter speed could have been used. Given the available light, I would probably have had the camera set up at iso 320 or 400, to get f8 at 1/800. Again, in my opinion, you should always be set up at the highest acceptable (acceptable to you) iso in order to maximise shutter speed and depth of field for the subject, and I always try to set my camera up like this before I leave the car. f8 at 1/800 are my "contingency" settings. You shouldn't be overly concerned with image noise, if this was the concern here as it is easily dealt with in processing the image.
Posted by Fran French on November 30, 2009 at 11:11 AM
My thanks to you all for your comments, and particularly Phil for your constructive and helpful advice.
The truth of the matter is, I forgot to sharpen before posting .
That said, I did have to change camera settings, varying from ISO 400 downwards whilst shooting, as the light was forever changing from brilliant sunshine to overcast and blustery conditions,and although I agree with you with regards to the aperture, ISO 100 was perfect for me, for the exposure that I was wanting. I did forget to mention above that it was handheld, and shot through the open passenger window.
Anyways, once again I appreciate the input Phil, and I have done this repost with sharpening added
Discussion
16 repliesI was unsure about going out today, but decided I would regret it if I didn't, and how right I was. I found this kestrel perched beautifully in a tree, and then it moved to another just as the sun showed briefly after the rain. I filled my card, and came away a very happy bunny, after spending at least half an hour with it.There are a number of water droplets on the bird which were nice, but sadly you cannot see them at this size.
There was a point when it got so close that I managed a few portrait shots as well
40D,300mmf4 +1.4, ISO 100,f5.6, 1/500, +1/3. A few offending twigs removed bottom right.
Fran
liam.
Never easy these and you've done a good job.
I keep trying to get a decent image of one of these but as of yet it just hasnt happened.
They certainly are not easy ,bet your pleased with this i certainly would be,very nice.
Keith.
The 'semi-wet' look of this one adds to the interest in my opinion too.
Major.
Matt
David
There may be a number of reasons for this. I don't think it is a case of insufficient sharpening for presentation, although the additional contrast from an additional round of sharpening might harden it up a bit. We don't know whether a tripod was used to capture the image so camera movement, or subject movement in the wind may be be a possible cause. In both instances, increasing the shutter speed may have helped. However, using the 300/f4 + 1.4x combination at f5.6 is going to guarantee the softest image possible. In my opinion, the 1.4x should not be used wide open. I have never had satisfactory results wide open and would recommend f8 to f11 as being the optimum range with an f4 lens an APS-C type sensor camera body. This image could easily have been shot with a smaller aperture as the iso selected was 100.
This may all sound a bit harsh and negative. If so I apologise; my hope is that some analysis may help you and others reading the forum to get better images in the future.
I very rarely, if ever, use iso 100, and I wonder why this was selected in this case. Of course it could have been a mistake: all too easily made if you get caught up in the shooting and stop thinking about exactly what it is that you doing - happens to everyone.
If trying to optimise image quality in terms of absence of noise and maximum dynamic range, the available data suggest that the lowest noise on the 40D is obtained at iso 160, and that there is little noise penalty up to iso 640. So a smaller aperture and a higher shutter speed could have been used. Given the available light, I would probably have had the camera set up at iso 320 or 400, to get f8 at 1/800. Again, in my opinion, you should always be set up at the highest acceptable (acceptable to you) iso in order to maximise shutter speed and depth of field for the subject, and I always try to set my camera up like this before I leave the car. f8 at 1/800 are my "contingency" settings. You shouldn't be overly concerned with image noise, if this was the concern here as it is easily dealt with in processing the image.
The truth of the matter is, I forgot to sharpen before posting
That said, I did have to change camera settings, varying from ISO 400 downwards whilst shooting, as the light was forever changing from brilliant sunshine to overcast and blustery conditions,and although I agree with you with regards to the aperture, ISO 100 was perfect for me, for the exposure that I was wanting. I did forget to mention above that it was handheld, and shot through the open passenger window.
Anyways, once again I appreciate the input Phil, and I have done this repost with sharpening added
Hope it is an improvement.
Fran