They're Back!!!

© Stephen Shoff

They're Back!!!

Uploaded: October 14, 2012

Description

EF 300mm f/4.0L IS, 1/400 sec, ISO 640, exposure comp +0.33

Western Bluebird -- these bluebirds migrate through my backyard in the Fall. They like the berries in Silk Oak in my backyard.



Exif: F Number: 4, Exposure Bias Value: 0.33, ExposureTime: 1/400 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 640, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 300.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D

Comments

Dale Hardin October 14, 2012

What a little beauty Stephen!! Wonderful coloring, excellent composition and all around lovely shot.

Only thing that could have improved this would have been a bit more DOF so that the feet were sharper, but that is a very minor observation on an image as good as this. #1492308

Kristin Duff October 14, 2012

What a sweetheart...you are so lucky to have these migrate through your space! We have Rocky Mtn bluebirds and in the 40 years I have been here I have only seen 1 once! #10369434

Elaine Hessler October 14, 2012

Lucky you! I love that I can see every feather on this bird-the colors are gorgeous. And the tufts of feathers add interest-not the usual bird shot. Normally I'd like more room the the right where the bird is looking, but it would put the fence post off, and I think it looks good centered. Nice job! #10369480

Michael Kelly level-deluxe October 14, 2012

A real beauty Stephen! The clarity and color on the bird are superb. What a handsome little guy.

What is the BG?

#10369685

Stephen Shoff October 14, 2012

Mike -- Background is one of my garbage can lids. Dusty black plastic in open shade reflecting the sky. When I saw the bird sitting on the fence with an empty background, I thought I try for a portrait shot rather than my preferred natural setting.

Dale -- I was hand holding an effective 420mm telephoto, so I set the shutter speed and let the camera set the aperture.

Elaine -- I started out with a not quite so tight 3:2 crop that might have been better but there were a few distractions on the wood below this. This seems like such an exceptional out-of-the-camera capture for me that I didn't want to do any post processing except white balance and contrast (done entirely using Levels in CS4) #10369711

Aimee C. Eisaman October 15, 2012

Gorgeous shot...always have admired bird images! The background is beautiful even though it isn't natural. I honestly would never have guessed though. Yes there is alot of noise, but I do not find it to look like the kind of noise due to lack of data, but a natural noise associated with many nature shots like this. The comp. is very nice. The only thing I could think of suggesting is maybe to darken the area of the fence near it's feet. Maybe that would help to take attention away from the DOF that Dale mentioned. :~) #10370036

Jeff E Jensen October 15, 2012

Absolutely fantastic, Stephen! #10370096

Rita K. Connell level-classic October 15, 2012

Oh, the bird lover that I am I love this shot. it doesn't bother me not to have the natural back ground. this background really sets him off very nicely. I agree about the noise that its noticeable but agreee with amiee for the reason. I think a little selected darken around his feet just might make it better.

really a very nice capture stephen. they are so fun to watch. #10370286

Brandi K. Mills October 15, 2012

Didn't even think about the background until it was mentioned. A really clear, beautiful shot of this little guy. My daughter was looking over my shoulder as I was scrolling through the pictures and this one caught her attention! #10370382

Beth Spencer October 15, 2012

What a great shot! I love the detail in the feathers. I like it the way it is presented and wouldn't change a thing! #10371181

lisa anderson October 16, 2012

I can't believe the background is a garbage can! It's looks fantastic! Very very nice #10372471

Susan M. Reynolds level-classic October 17, 2012

An 'exceptional out if the camera shot' is right!! What a beautifully detailed capture of this cute little guy you took. I remember Aimee talking about under part of the bridge looking good for a portrait shoot in a drive-by, but all the bird doodie was unsettling...it's true that sometimes the "crappiest" background can become the best for the shot!
I am curious of one thing about your settings. In an exposure classs I took back in '09 from Sean Arbabi I kind of remember him emphasizing always trying to shoot with the lowest ISO possible. I noticed your effix data listed your ISO at 640 during a daytime shade photo? What is your reason for setting the ISO as high as 640...I've always tried to stay between 100-200 and the highest I've gone is 400. Not sure would happen if I ever went higher, so I'm curious ~ Cool Shot! #10373437

Dale Hardin October 17, 2012

Susan, I would imagine it was to increase shutter speed. Am I right Stephen? #10373442

Stephen Shoff October 17, 2012

Yes. ISO was set to support a shutter speed that provided some degree of assurance that at that effective focal length (300mm on a Canon crop sensor is 420mm) I had a chance of getting a sharp shot, but I also needed something more than that lens' wide-open aperture (f4.0).

I don't like ISO > 200 either even on my Canon full-frame camera. Sometimes I think I should go back to my older 5D to improve [RAW image] noise performance.
#10374011

Debbie E. Payne October 18, 2012

Stephen -- Anyway, you look at this, it is a wonderful wildlife shot. Yeah for the garbage can! I think it looks great. You can't tell what it is and it compliments this little guy so completely. I just love his little tufts of white feathers on both sides of his body. Such a charmer! #10375521

Susan M. Reynolds level-classic October 20, 2012

Thanks for the insight on the ISO settings. If I remember, I think that's what the instructor said about higher ISO creating noise. I think the newer D900 was improved on in that area, but it will probably be extinct before I can afford that dream full frame camera!
And, I too, love his little tufts on each side...so adorable! #10378092

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