Wild Call Me Handsome

Kodiak Qc

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French Canadian living in Europe since 1989!
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Yes


This little fellow is way from being a year old — it was
born in Spring, if you don't mind! — and it has already
learner to spell vanity. I say vanity because I am jea-
lous to never have been granted this kind of beauty.




G1478%201D.jpg


G1479%201Dpp.jpg




 
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Nice to see them through the moult and looking spectacular again :)
 
Nice to see them through the moult and looking spectacular again :)


Oh yes! Can you explain why this fellow has
only one of the orange vertical feather?
 
A nice enough portrait, but the 3/4 tones are in desperate need of being raised. Its clearly a sunny day but the tones are far too dark for these birds. A simple raising of the curves around the shadows, then a second curves layer adding contrast to the mid-tones should get things closer -

G1478%201DRP.jpg

As ever the RAW would be better, but this is closer to reality and I've not touched your highlights at all

Mike
 
Is it just held flat, or damaged during moulting?


Not flat as it is not apparent when or after bathing
– it was also my guess that it might have been
damaged somehow, somewhen… still sexy!
 
tones are in desperate need of being raised


You're right there, Mike, looks quite lively… :cool:

if one want to render a birder's guide book shot
— which is not what I'm after since I don't have
a birder's approach to the subject.

These late afternoon obliquely lit takes are ren-

dering the mood of the low and warm Sun plus,
since there was not a cloud in the sky, all its
harshness too.
 
You're right there, Mike, looks quite lively… :cool:

if one want to render a birder's guide book shot
— which is not what I'm after since I don't have
a birder's approach to the subject.

Its not about a birders approach to the subject though - its about accurately recording what in front of you. I'm not a birder, but I try my best to get my shots to represent what was in front of me when I pressed the shutter. If thats a distant shot on the marsh thats fair enough, I like environmental backgrounds in shots, often more so than straightforward portraits, but it doesn't mean the colours need to be inaccurate.

These late afternoon obliquely lit takes are ren-
dering the mood of the low and warm Sun plus,
since there was not a cloud in the sky, all its
harshness too.

That just contradicts itself though. This is not low and warm sun, its bright light with very harsh shadows. I really don't understand why you won't accept that your shots are not presented correctly and keep talking about 'renderings'. You regularly have this mentioned but refuse to accept what people say - is there a specific reason for this? I'm not trying to start anything here but I really need to get my head around your views if there is going to be any point in offering assistance.

Mike
 
its about accurately recording what in front of you.
Exactly.
This is not low and warm sun, its bright light with very harsh shadows.
At this time of the year, at 16:32, the Sun is getting quite low

but it will get lower later in the season.
I really don't understand why you won't accept that your shots are not presented correctly and keep talking about 'renderings'.
No values in my rendition is over 240/255 nor under 010/255
so that covers the DR. Your correction has blown up the whites,
boosted the mid-tones but preserved the low keys. Ok, this is
a legitimate way to look at it and, in that sense, a fair rendition.
refuse to accept what people say - is there a specific reason for this?
I certainly don't refuse to accept what people say… I even permit
edits. If I am noticed that a tweak i necessary, and justified, I will
promptly correct and be grateful, but maybe I have preferences
in my renditions (artistic intent) that suggestions might not work
in the direction I have chosen. Some remarks are received with
gratitude but some others may not contribute positively as I see it.
I'm not trying to start anything here but I really need to get my head around your views if there is going to be any point in offering assistance.
I did not feel any aggression from you at this point, Mike. This is
a forum and everyone can edit — in my case — and critique in
any case. Every one has opinions and can express them but that
does not make anyone right.

Yes, I often offer suggestions and propose illustration; sometimes
they are well accepted or not. that' the name of the game
 
I think I'll leave it at that. You say you want to record accurately whats in front of you, but then also want to have your artistic renditions. The 2 are not mutually agreeable though. Probably best we agree to differ.

Still, I've tried, good luck with your shooting

Mike
 
To be fair Daniel, I think that most of your "marsh shots" have an air of Transylvania about them ........ the dark mysterious ........... I have come to accept that this is "your style"

I know that you state that some are experiments with light and shade and not bird shots ........ but we don't get light like that around here ... be interested to know your settings and technique?

I used to visit Vienna regularly in the 1970's and made it to Transylvania just once, but apparently it is in Romania ..... when I went it was in Hungary ... maybe there are 2
 
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I have come to accept that this is "your style"
A style is an approach toward a result that is forced
or supported by the light conditions, I think.
be interested to know your settings and technique?
Not much to do with the settings, Bill, since I aim
at protecting the high light at all times… so really,
it comes down to the histogram and the EV button!
Transylvania
Only one, in Romania! :cool:
 
I guess it's down to preference. For me I would be somewhere in the middle - however I do feel sometimes I do lose the mood of the lighting in favour of getting more details from the shadows.
 
These ducks always make for impressive shots..putting aside the above critique. It's amazing what nature bestows on wildlife.
 
putting aside the above critique. It's amazing what nature bestows on wildlife.

Well, John, opinions are what they are and should be respected
but the only one I really take seriously is Mother Nature, always!

Thanks man! :cool:
 
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