Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA  


Bird Ballet by Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA

May 2021 - Bird Ballet

May 2021 - Brenda Fishbaugh, QPSA

Original

About the Image(s)


ISO 1000 476mm focal length f/8.0 1/4000 sec

Canon 5D Mark IV Canon 100-400 telephoto w/ 1.4x tele extender handheld

We went back to Myakka State Park in Sarasota, FL on April 7. I'm just starting to get birds in flight, so I'd love everyone's advice. I liked the diagonal the Great Egret's wings created and cropped to a square.

Since I cropped in, I used Topaz Gigapixel to give me a bigger photo. I then used Lightroom with basic adjustments. In Photoshop, I lightened the wing closest to us and added a slight vignette.

I would like to enter it in PSA Nature, so I can not add a background, or make any changes that would not be made in the dark room.

Can it be enhanced for local Photo Club entry?


This round’s discussion is now closed!
21 comments posted




Geoff Wiggins   Geoff Wiggins
(Group 70)
Well done Brenda, well cropped, nicely in focus and a great pose. Looks like you are progressing well towards some qualification in nature. The only comment that I can make to improve the shot is I would reduce the exposure a little when taking such shots so that the whites are not burnt out. You can always correct in lightroom or photoshop to brighten parts of the pic but there is nothing you can do to solve burnt out parts. White birds are a real problem. I am referring to the neck of the bird. In Aus I shote at 1/2000sec f8 ISO 200 for white birds.   Posted: 05/09/2021 01:16:46
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Geoff, I've taken your advice and my revision is entered at 5/19 with comments. Any additional changes you would suggest?   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:12:21



Dean Ginther   Dean Ginther
Depends on what the local club allows. Often what post processing is allowed is a bit murky so unless it is not explicitly prohibited, go for it.   Posted: 05/10/2021 20:29:14
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks for your thoughts! PSA Nature is very strict and they ask for raw files if there is any question, so I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'd love your thoughts on my 5/19 revision! Thanks!   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:13:26



Mervyn Hurwitz   Mervyn Hurwitz
Brenda, this is one of your best flight shots so far. I like your crop which gives the bird space to land.
You can use 'Multiply" in the history brush tool at about 25% to darken the back of the neck. I would also use the radial filter in camera raw to add some light into the eye. These tips would still allow you to enter in a nature competition.   Posted: 05/12/2021 14:42:55
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Mervyn, I gotta watch some You Tubes on the History brush, you always have very cool suggestions on how to use it. Check out my 5/19 revision. What should I do next?   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:14:20



Dean Ginther   Dean Ginther
Brenda,
Catching a bird in flight and doing so with a clear and sharp image isn't easy but you did it.   Posted: 05/12/2021 15:15:19
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks, Dean! Check out my 5/19 revision. Any suggestions to get it competition ready?   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:14:55
Dean Ginther   Dean Ginther
Branda,

Right, but you asked about local club contests (or that's how I understood your question) Local clubs typically don't follow the PSA guidelines for categories like nature strictly for contests-they is lots of variation for contest to contest.
I think your revised image is excellent and would do well in a judged contest.
  Posted: 05/19/2021 19:38:09



Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
(Group 34)
Brenda, good crop, good action, and beautiful wing placement. I would brighten the eye and reduce the exposure on the bird's back and wings. The one thing that judges seem to always take points away on is the merge of the head and wing. They seem to like to have the head holding its own with nothing behind it.   Posted: 05/14/2021 14:13:34
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Candy, thanks for the tip about the bird head standing alone! I've made some revisions, would you check out my 5/19 changes and offer your expertise? Love your bird advice!   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:16:04
Candy Childrey   Candy Childrey
(Group 34)
Brenda, the head, eye and lores stand out much better now. The highlights have been reduced enough to remove the brightness of the wing and back. Sometimes it is better to use your eye rather than the histogram to decide about the brightness of whites, especially on white birds. You should always make allowances for monitors or projectors that give a brighter image. My way of deciding is-do you see texture in the feathers and definition of whites between the feathers rather than one solid blur. Good work.   Posted: 05/29/2021 14:45:49
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks for your white bird suggestions, Candy!
  Posted: 05/29/2021 15:03:09



Jacob Wat   Jacob Wat
The cropping is very well done. The pose is very nice also. I also think that leaving blue to the right makes it feel very dynamic.   Posted: 05/18/2021 12:58:35
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks so much, Jacob! Check out my 5/19 revision--improved?   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:16:37



Pierre Williot   Pierre Williot
Hi Brenda. Lovely shot. Nice pause - perfect cropping for me with nice lines. Part of your problem was the time of the day (probably noonish) with a clear sky which leads to harsh shadows.
I would suggest, if possible, decreasing the highlights and white and at the same time, opening the shadows (and/or decreasing the black). This would soften the harsh shadows.
Lovely. I would have no problem proposing this image for a nature contest.   Posted: 05/19/2021 05:30:51
Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Pierre, thanks for your advice! I followed it and put my revision below on 5/19. What do you suggest for additional changes? Thank you!   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:17:40
Pierre Williot   Pierre Williot
Nicely done!   Posted: 05/19/2021 19:50:10
Pierre Williot   Pierre Williot
Nicely done!   Posted: 05/21/2021 01:46:24



Brenda Fishbaugh   Brenda Fishbaugh
(Group 78)
Thanks for all the feedback! I was very surprised to hear everyone say the bird was too bright, as I used my histogram to make sure it wasn't blown out. But it was very bright out (April in Florida), so I used Pierre's technique of dropping whites and highlights and painting. I did use the radial filter to lighten the eye. Is my bird too dark now? Still too light?
I appreciate all the bird expertise in the group!
  Posted: 05/19/2021 19:10:52
Comment Image



Geoff Wiggins   Geoff Wiggins
(Group 70)
You have done well Brenda, it was just the back of the neck that bothered me but it may have been my computer. Good on you Geoff.   Posted: 05/20/2021 16:42:00