Page 1 of 1

Birds at the Zoo

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:48 pm
by Manta
Some bird shots from today's Australia Zoo visit.

Comments and critique very welcome.

A bit boring but I like Kookaburras!
Image

Pied Imperial Pigeon
Image

Eclectus Parrot
Image

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:59 pm
by avkomp
nice background on the Kooka,

probably needs a little more DOF, just started to blow the whites on the forehead, not too bad though and easily fixed. That small part of most kookas blows if you arent careful. generally cant use more than -2 or -1.66 ev fill

quite like the lighting on the pigeon looks nice against the greenery.

eclectus would stand out better without the background, but not much you can do about that because that is where they live :lol:

steve

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:02 pm
by BBJ
Simon, nice shots of some birdies there looks like you had a good time.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:04 pm
by Manta
avkomp wrote:nice background on the Kooka,

probably needs a little more DOF, just started to blow the whites on the forehead, not too bad though and easily fixed. That small part of most kookas blows if you arent careful. generally cant use more than -2 or -1.66 ev fill

quite like the lighting on the pigeon looks nice against the greenery.

eclectus would stand out better without the background, but not much you can do about that because that is where they live :lol:

steve


Thanks Steve - I'll keep those things in mind next time. Didn't even think of knocking down the EV... :oops:

I desaturated the background on the eclectus by a few degrees but I didn't want to muck with the shot too much. As you say, there wasn't much I could do with it's positioning plus I was already on tiptoe on top of a fence rail t get somewhere near eye level with the bird. :shock:

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:05 pm
by Manta
BBJ wrote:Simon, nice shots of some birdies there looks like you had a good time.


Sure did John - thanks for your comments.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:07 pm
by avkomp
the good thing about kookas is that they will tend to sit there and let you photograph them.

until you get a feel for the amount of fill, you can chimp a few shots with the highlights screen selected. They dont look that white but that area is and blows most times.

Steve

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:15 am
by mudder
Gotta say I like that Kooka shot, something about the "low key" feel gives the image a more menacing or moody feel yet you've still got good eye detail...

Love the new avatar too!

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:41 am
by Finch
Simon,

Glad you managed to get to Aussie Zoo - weather was just perfect for you.

Kooka shot is my favourite and eye is nice and sharp. Unfortunately, on my screen at least, Eclectus male is a tad dark and blends into background. As Steve said, not much you can do with background.

Cheers

Michael

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:59 am
by Manta
Thanks Andrew - it does look quite menacing. Alfred Hitchcock-ish? :wink:

Cheers Michael. :D

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:17 am
by big pix
Eclectus: have a play with Lab colour to brighten colours and to lift the subject from background........

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:36 pm
by Manta
Thanks Bernie - had a go at that but will try a bit more extreme.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:00 pm
by big pix
had a little play using Lab Colour and Shadow highlight filter......

Image

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:43 pm
by Manta
Nice one Bernie. :)

PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:09 pm
by ABG
Great photo of the kooka Simon. As Andrew has already said, it has a lovely moody feel. (The photo you disgusting, filthy perverts, with your fingers twitching at the keyboard :wink: )