David Halgrimson, APSA
July 2025 - Black Turn in Rain
Original
About the Image(s)
Took this out at the Sheerburne National Wildlife Refuge a couple weeks ago. It was raining, rained all day, and there wee some Black Turns flying low over the water. These birds are very difficult to photograph, they fly fast and never sit where you can see them. This day they were hovering and diving and I was able to capture a few images.
Taken with an Olympus EM1 MKIII, Olympus 300mm lens. 1/200th sec, f/4.0, ISO 1250.
Processed in Lightroom, making minor adjustments, then converted to B&W in Silver Efex Pro 2, using preset #5 High Structure, lowered the highlights, raised the midtowns, lowered the shadows, applied a color to bring out the weeds and rain drops, added a rectangle vignette and Type 9 boarder.
7 comments posted
This is a very "sharp" image. At first, I thought your SS was 1250 and your ISO was 200, but after reading, I see it is just the opposite. Your 200 SS has done a superb job of "stopping the action". The feathers are especially interesting with the High Structure preset...great detail. Posted: 07/07/2025 19:56:54
Did not need a high SS as the bird was hovering. Posted: 07/07/2025 20:21:50
David, what a great capture of the black tern. You are correct, they are very difficult to photograph with the constant flight and moves! I was surprised to see your shutter speed at 200, too, but the bird hovered for you! I appreciate the composition with the reeds giving the image depth and the bird in the left third. Did you sharpen the black and white version at all as it looks sharper than the original to me. Very nice image! Posted: 07/07/2025 21:39:48
Good eye, yes sharpenig is part of my processing procedure. Posted: 07/08/2025 14:00:39
You have done a strong conversion from the original to get the quality you have, the detail and contrast you have is very good considering your original detail. For me the bird is good but the rain drops hitting the water make the image. it is a good monochrome. Posted: 07/17/2025 08:53:12
I also like the composition David, and the time of capture (extended wings).
Your photo processing is also interesting (light on and around the subject).
We don't see the eye, I suppose it's is quite the same color and the feathers? Posted: 07/17/2025 14:35:48
Your photo processing is also interesting (light on and around the subject).
We don't see the eye, I suppose it's is quite the same color and the feathers? Posted: 07/17/2025 14:35:48
David - this is very interesting. I photograph a lot of birds, but never considered them in mono. I will experiment.
This works well because of the rainy conditions and lack of specific background detail - your tern in amongst reeds. I love the detail you've achieved in the feathers (wings and tail) but there is less on the body. A black bird does nor help here, but I wonder if selective lifting of shadows would help here. But to me, your image is made by the feather detail. Well done. Posted: 07/21/2025 06:22:10
This works well because of the rainy conditions and lack of specific background detail - your tern in amongst reeds. I love the detail you've achieved in the feathers (wings and tail) but there is less on the body. A black bird does nor help here, but I wonder if selective lifting of shadows would help here. But to me, your image is made by the feather detail. Well done. Posted: 07/21/2025 06:22:10