Drongo - Post processing help: Can this image be salvaged?

Raj_55555 · May 24, 2014

I really really love this shot as I've been trying for something similar for a long long time. Drongos are so hard to shoot because of their colour and their skittish nature. The problem with this image is that I had to take it at around ISO 640 to retain the details during the flight. My post processing skills are semi-decent, but can any of the guru's here do any better at reducing the noise while retaining some of the details? The larger version of the original RAW(CR2) file can be found on this link and the Jpeg [URL=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9qp-yxagEE7OWtVcUpGbWpTUEU/edit?usp=sharing]here[/URL].

Here's the best of what I could do:

Any other comments welcome as well.

randyphotoforum · May 24, 2014

Raj_55555 said:
I really really love this shot as I've been trying for something similar for a long long time. Drongos are so hard to shoot because of their colour and their skittish nature. The problem with this image is that I had to take it at around ISO 640 to retain the details during the flight. My post processing skills are semi-decent, but can any of the guru's here do any better at reducing the noise while retaining some of the details? The larger version of the original RAW(CR2) file can be found on this link and the Jpeg here

Here's the best of what I could do:

Any other comments welcome as well.

maybe.....send me the cr2.......rimland@carolina.rr.com

TheNevadanStig · May 24, 2014

Maybe try a different share site for the raw, I got all sorts of virus alerts attempting to download it. Looks like an easy save to me.

IzzieK · May 24, 2014

I kinda like the backlighting a lot and the composition...I do not think I will change anything at all, Raj.......

danielklaer · May 24, 2014

Top shot Raj. Downloaded it but wont have time for a play until I get home later today. I'll post it up then

BillM · May 24, 2014

Here's my shot at it Raj

Raj_55555 · May 24, 2014

randyphotoforum said:
maybe.....send me the cr2.......rimland@carolina.rr.com

Sure, I'll send them. Thanks Randy

Raj_55555 · May 24, 2014

TheNevadanStig said:
Maybe try a different share site for the raw, I got all sorts of virus alerts attempting to download it. Looks like an easy save to me.

My apologies Stig, I've never had to share a file before. I used google drive this time, I don't know why it didn't cross my mind the first time!
Here (raw) and here (jpeg).. Edited the original post as well!

Raj_55555 · May 24, 2014

IzzieK said:
I kinda like the backlighting a lot and the composition...I do not think I will change anything at all, Raj.......

Thanks Izzi, I love them too. But theirs just too much noise, and the image doesn't look clean at all for my test. Let's hope someone here can do some magic!

Raj_55555 · May 24, 2014

danielklaer said:
Top shot Raj. Downloaded it but wont have time for a play until I get home later today. I'll post it up then

Thanks, I'm looking forward to what you've done

Raj_55555 · May 24, 2014

BillM said:
Here's my shot at it Raj

Thank you so much for taking the time Bill, it looks so much better than mine. But I am still missing the prominent eyes, I just had an idea and will try an edit over yours. Let's see how it works out.

Sventek · May 24, 2014

Here's my attempt, Raj.

And here's a link to the full size version: http://www.metrophoto.com.au/img/s5/v128/p745650232.jpg

Just for interest, here's what "drongo" means here in Australia: Urban Dictionary: Drongo

Raj_55555 · May 25, 2014

Sventek said:
Here's my attempt, Raj.
And here's a link to the full size version: http://www.metrophoto.com.au/img/s5/v128/p745650232.jpg

Just for interest, here's what "drongo" means here in Australia: Urban Dictionary: Drongo

Lol.. I had no idea that this can be a slang.. :lol:

But I can't find any pictures of the idiot bird, the link seems to be no longer valid.

Sventek · May 25, 2014

Sorry about that - which link Raj? The one to the full size version, or the image itself?

Raj_55555 · May 25, 2014

Sventek said:
Sorry about that - which link Raj? The one to the full size version, or the image itself?

Very strange! Now both of them are working, did you change anything? In any case, it's really clean and definitely much better than my version. Would you mind sharing what changes you made? Thanks for taking the time to edit it for me sventek