Nuthatch - advice please

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

Been playing around with my D300, pleased with results on my first outing...all the way into my garden

Anyway...would someone who has experience of Elements / Photoshop mind checking out the piccy. I'm particularly poor with trying to bring out detail in the shadow area around the tail - I don't want to lighten the entire picture and wondered how the best way to do this might be. Other post process tips also welcomed.

General critique is of course welcome as always.

*edit to add* - need to click the picture to take it to full size. For some reason when not full size on my screen WAB shows it slightly softer than it is?



Thanks!

TobyH

[JonSadler]

I like the classic nuthatch arched back pose you have captured. It looks pretty sharp to me. What lens were you using?

I also like the Scolytid beetle galleries you have on the wood on the tree - nice added detail and interest.

Regards
Jon

[BruceP]

Added photoshop steps as the description. Just ask if you don't understand any of the steps.

[Tobyh]

Thanks for the help Bruce. will check that out

Jon - using a D300 with a Bigma (Sigma 50-500). I shoot it at the 400 mark as its seems sharper - in fact thats a tip that the good folks here at WAB passed on. The tree is an old Ash that I had laying at the bottom of the garden, let it rot a bit then "replanted" it.

TobyH

[DOXHOPE]

The picture is under exposed, I adjusted mid-tones in levels and it has come out better..no exif data to work on, so it would help knowing shutter speed, iso etc..to help you more. I tried sharpening it but it went very noisey. It is a wee bit soft, could be the make of lense, or a too low of shutter speed..Im not familiar with the lense, does it have any form of image stabalising on it?

[glsammy]

Funny how we all see images differently!

Here's my feeble effort:



I applied some local editing with the dodge tool just in the shadow area. I had that set to 12%, and selected the shadow.
After this I ran the Highlight/shadow tool over the whole image, hence the lighter background.
I then applied some sharpening just to the bird, and ran neat image over the background.

Obviously if you don't like it, ignore all I've just said!

Your comment on how you images look is correct. The site software compresses the image to such an extent it does affect the image. When you click on the image it shows it without this compression. If you made your images the exact size of the screen display, (880 x 600 pixels.) It would display far better.
I don't bother, I just hope users click on the image to see the shots how they are supposed to look!

[Tobyh]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Funny how we all see images differently!

Your comment on how you images look is correct. The site software compresses the image to such an extent it does affect the image. When you click on the image it shows it without this compression. If you made your images the exact size of the screen display, (880 x 600 pixels.) It would display far better.
I don't bother, I just hope users click on the image to see the shots how they are supposed to look!

I'm glad I wasn't imagining this as on my screen viewed properly it doesn't look soft at all. Doxhope - if you click all the way through until you are viewing the picture at the size I uploaded does it still show as soft for you? Also my original picture does not look underexposed to me at all? Are you looking at the one in the first post? If so - something weird going on!

The Bigma does not have any IS/VR for info.

Appreciate the help all - I'll spend some time having a play in Elements and see what happens.

TobyH

[DOXHOPE]

Hi Tobyh, check glsammy`s image and compare it to your first post image for sharpness..I checked your image historgram and it is to the left..hey, nothing wrong with a bit under exposure in my book, it can be corrected un like a burnt out over exposed image..I often shoot safe by setting a negative exposure compensation so I dont blow out any highlights...but too far to the left on the historgram will mean more noise in the shadows after applying some brighening. It also means a faster shutter speed..You got the shot, thats the main thing matie, and overall, I would be quite happy with it..more so after a bit tweaking as what has been done above by glsammy. Which, is very well done indeed and lost me off completely. I crop, check and adjust levels, adjust contrast if required, sometimes saturation then sharpen..and Im in ore of anyone who can do more in photoshop

[Tobyh]

OK Doxhope, thanks for that. Admittedly the histogram is something I really should learn properly.

Appreciate the help everyone

TobyH

[DOXHOPE]

Thats ok matie, like its been mentioned on here before, the histogram, can, be your best friend. I was always frightend of even looking at it at one time, I look at it now more than the actual picture in the D300`s impressive rear view screen..three quarters of what I shoot now are probably towards the left of the historgram..wildlife photgraphy dosnt lend itself too much towards having time to keep changing settings..so I 'shoot safe'..and it works for me.
like its already been said on this thread, 'everyone see`s images differently`thats the beauty of photography..but, there is a technical side, which, if masterd will give more consistant results. I have photos that I love, and have them blown up to almost a metre square for my walls..these are technically poor and wouldnt stand a chance in a competition or getting into a photo libarary, but I love them as photos.
For me as a wildlife photographer one of my main factors in a good image is focus, I have photos here from years ago, which, at the time I thought were ultra sharp..there not, in fact they are sh** comapred to what I do now...zoom your pics up to 100% then check the place where the viewers eye will go first, (usually the eye in wildlife photography) you may get a shock on photos you, at first, thought were sharp..
Here is a link for you, it was originally for the Fuji S2 Pro camera, but it is for anything now, but mainly with cameras with the Nikon mount. You will get some great help for your particular camera, and expert critiques on photographs..there is also help with settings etc, etc
s2pro.com - Fuji FinePix S2 Pro Users Group

Good shooting matie, especially with the D300, excellent camera..