Why so much noise?

[tiler65]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/ardion-90/Robincopy.jpg

Can any one help me to reduce the noise whilst shooting and therefore less in PP.

I have the raw file if anyone is interested.

[CT]

I got big computer probs at the mo Tiler. I'm typing this on the lappy so can't look at your RAW file.

More info needed, including ISO and exposure details.

Use the lowest ISO you can for lowest noise.

Low or poor light photography can result in noisy images even when using a low ISO, and any degree of under exposure will increase noise.

Try to avoid using the fill light in RAW processing as it increases noise dramatically.

HTH a bit mate. Catch you later if I ever surface from Computer Hell! ;)

[Jimmy_Lemon]

I had a little play, and just used a bit of blur and then the blur tool to really blur the background and kill the noise then just patches of bluring on the trunks. Looks ok full size, but not so good when you zoom in.

http://img326.imageshack.us/img326/4222/robindenoisedlq7.jpg

[RobertP]

I've looked at the exif in the picture. The shot was taken with flash at a focal length of 220mm using pattern metering and P mode.

Did you have to increase the exposure on the raw? (that will cause noise).
Pattern will meter for the whole scene not the subject so that could make the bird dark. Using manual and metering on the subject or something of equal brightness should get you a better exposure. Use 'partial' metering mode for that sort of shot as it measures the middle of the shot only.

What was the flash and how far away were you from the bird?

[tiler65]

I was about 4 metres away. (pop up flash)

On the camera lcd (review) the picture was almost if not all dark.

So when I uploaded the shot to pc and open in PS CS2 the raw screen appears but my photo appears normal (ish). just checked it again and it automatically ups the exposure to 3.15. But in canons zoom browser (and raw image task) the photo is as the lcd review screen.

Why does it no appear on the lcd but it does in PS raw viewer?

This has happened a few times when I shoot raw, but never when I shoot jpeg.

The only custom function I have running is reduced noise in long exposures.

[SDK^]

You have taken the shot at ISO 100 and I'm guessing it was underexposed and you had to 'push' the exposure. Increasing exposure on dark image is going to produce a lot noise.

When in dark conditions it's better to shoot at a higher ISO and use Noise Reduction software later to reduce it (if required).

[tiler65]

many thanks for all the advice.

I need to slow down more me thinks instead of rushing ou tinto the garden when i see an opportunity. :thankyou:

[CT]

Unfortunately with the winter approaching we have to accept that the light is going to be crap on most days, particularly in the shade, making bird photography difficult anyway.

[tiler65]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/ardion-90/Robincopy.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/ardion-90/Sparrow2.jpg

What a difference a bit of advice can bring. many thanks :clap:

[oldgit]

Another think to take into account is how the sensor on the camera works. It's basically
more sensitve to light areas than dark. This is explained well here (also why you should shoot in RAW - if it's not obvious) ...

http://luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/u-raw-files.shtml

So theory says that overexposure (oo-err missus :banana:) is better than under.

Seems to hold true in practice.

[CT]

Big improvement there Tiler. Your sparrow is looking a bit soft though. Whenever you reduce a file in size it suffers quite a loss of definition and sharpness, so almost always needs sharpening. The best way is to apply USM in small amounts, several times until it just starts to look over-sharpened, then undo the last sharpen. I increased the contrast slightly too.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/530/Sparrow2_2_.jpg

[tiler65]

is the USM just to the sparrow or the whole image (daft question I know ( I think you can isolate areas to usm via quick mask......?) ) as my monitor is a very poor one.

Great rendition by the way.

[CT]

I applied it to the whole image Tiler. The only thing is that sharpening will of course also sharpen any noise present too, but noise isn't always objectionable and usually preferable to unsharp shots. :)

Yes, you can apply USM to selective areas with masks, or noise reduction too for that matter.

[Fangman]

I am glad that i am not the only one to suffer as the light up to the last few days has been poor and my feeders are under a tree so the leaves thinning helps as well. Got Neat Image which seems easire and quicker to use than Noise Ninja. Also try duplicating the image and running the High pass filter and then use the modes in the layer to combine the image. Does not affect the original layer and you can adjust the ammount of sharpening in the opacity slider for the layer. Screen is softer but overlay works nicely and layer blend chioce.