Red Kite (and lighting)

[Kenneth Walker]

Yesterday was nice and bright, so plenty of light bouncing around....still want to show the underside of these birds more clearly. Spot metering and single point auto focus...AFC and using the back button. I can improve things a bit in PS Elements, but what would other people be doing?

 

[weepete]

Nice shot!. I've been meaning to get out and see the red kites at some point, thare's a couple of feeding centres reasonably near me.

I probably wouldn't do a lot to that shot, lift the shadows a little, sharpen and thats about it.

 

[goooner]

Nice shot. I agree with weepete, lifting the shadows should bring out some details in the wings and tail.

 

[Kenneth Walker]

Thanks, I left it as it came out of the camera, so as not to confuse the issue. weepete; we get a lot here (near Reading) I've seen upwards of a dozen in a thermal at one time. However that's suspiciously close to the local farm shop (a butcher's) at closing time, so that may well qualify as a feeding centre!

 

[DarkShadow]

Usually with brite blue skies and darker birds,I will expose to the right.For example I might shoot @ 1/1250 @ f/8 with a +o7 EV usually will expose the underside of the bird better.IMO its better to get it in camera then in post for cleaner noise free images.

 

[Kenneth Walker]

Thanks!

 

[AlanKlein118 7]

I think the darker shadows are better. It accentuates the outline of the bird and accents the translucence of its tail. Why have we reached a point in photography where we want to see so many details in shadows? Just because our programs can do it, doesn't mean we should do it from an artistic point of view. I think we have falling more in love with our technology and tools than in the art of the final product.