This is one of those dumb mistakes that I was lucky enough to be able to rescue. I was shooting Hummingbirds in lowlight, hence high ISO. When I turned around behind me was this anole on a tree trunk. I I would have thought for a second I woudl have dialed the ISO down. So the result is an overexposed original. It was captured handheld with my Canon R5 and 100-500mm lens.
ISO 4000; f/7.1; 1/3200 sec.
I did the usual adjustments in LR - set white & black points, bumped up contrast and clarity. I used the Tone Curve to darken the background and the HSL Panel to selectively adjust color, saturation and luminosity. The final step was to crop to a verticle presentation. The background has been darkend to the extent that I do not believe this would be accepted in PSA Natue Division, but I think it makes a nice nature portrait, especially because of the expanded "dewlap."
This round’s discussion is now closed! 6 comments posted
Mike Cohen
I agree with you and like the composition in general. Although the whites of the anole's underside are possibly blown, in this image I don't think it detracts. I've seen many images where blown highlights add to the image and would include this one as well. It is amazing how much information modern sensors capture. My only suggestion would be to clone out the little spikes on the upper and lower left of the stem as they pull me a bit away from the lizard. Your mistake, by the way, is one I make all the time: shoot first, ask questions later! Posted: 09/03/2023 10:11:44
Ally Green
I like the expression of this Anole and great capture of the eye and his position on the branch. You have done a great job in post rescuing this image from being over exposed. Details in the branch are great. I agree with Mike about the blown highlights on the underside but doesn't detract too much.
I am having difficulty with my R5 on getting a high enough shutter speed at times...any tips? All a new learning curve for me. Posted: 09/10/2023 11:30:54
Sharon Prislipsky
Thanks for your comments, Ally. With regard to shutter speed, it sounds like you may be using Apertue Preferred mode. If that is correct, the camera is controlling your shuter speed. If you use Shutter Preferred, you will be able to get to very fast shutter speeds, but the camera will selectthe aperture, which will affect your depth of field. The solution is to shoot in Manual mode so that you have total control. I can elaborate more if this response is on the right track. If not let me know in more detail how you are shooting, and I will see what might be helpful to you with this problem. Posted: 09/10/2023 13:36:22
Ally Green
Thanks Sharon & yes i normally do Aperture priority...but will try Manual and experiment with the Shutter Speed priority too. Thanks for your guidance! Posted: 09/15/2023 12:11:25
Judith Lesnaw
What a wonderful composition and subject. That lizard is posing for you. When I saw the marvelous red spotted bulge on the anole's throat I thought of a frog's vocal sack, and I wanted to hear what he sounded like. To my surprise I discovered that the "bulge" is called a dewlap and it is not used for vocalizing but rather for visually attracting a female. Your image is especially neat as they are very elusive. I have never seen one, but I will look for them on my next venture out of my backyard. I would love to have the comments on manual mode and the R 5 that you mentioned in your comments on Alley's image. Posted: 09/10/2023 17:11:14
Pamela Hoaglund
I apologize for being late in my reviews this month. Covid caught up to me Labor Day weekend so I have not felt well the last couple of weeks.
Sometimes we just have to shoot on the fly and luckily the post processing programs come to our rescue. You benefited from the suggestion "to always look behind you." I think your post processing did a great job in bringing out the best in this image. There is nice detail in the lizard and the branch he is on. I think trying to bring down the highlights on the white belly would end up turning it gray. I don't find it distracting as it is a small part of the lizard. My only suggestion might be to crop a little tighter so the lizard is more the focal point than the branch. Posted: 09/17/2023 19:31:57
