Reflections of a morning shooting with Dan

kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
edited October 4, 2010 in Wildlife
Dan Plumer was kind enough to show a couple of us other Dgrinners his secret bird sanctuary incongruously located in metro Phoenix, and known only to himself and half of Phoenix. :rofl

I'm out of practice shooting birds, so the big money shots escaped me. But I had fun playing with the reflections in the early morning light.

Mirror mirror on the wall, whose the fairest goose of them all?
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True love?
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Stilt on a three-point stance
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Egret on a stroll
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GBH plus reflection was too big for my lens.
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Something wrong here, but I can't put my finger on it. :scratch
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The end.
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It was a most enjoyable morning. Big thanks to Dan for hosting the event! :thumb :thumb

-joel
Moderator of Landscapes forum
Link to my Smugmug site

Comments

  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited September 27, 2010
    Great shots Joel, indeed. clap.gifclap

    1024336044_io9dy-L.jpg
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited September 27, 2010
    Oh gosh, who's that homely SOB? rolleyes1.gif
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 27, 2010
    kdog wrote: »
    Oh gosh, who's that homely SOB? rolleyes1.gif

    That SOB ain't so homely! wings.gifD
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited September 27, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    That SOB ain't so homely! wings.gifD
    Hahaha, thanks for the vote of confidence, Ric. Your check's in the mail. deal.gif
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited September 27, 2010
    well by that look now I know why that shot is upside down rolleyes1.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    Nice pics Joel, but I really like the stilt reflection! clap.gif
    Birds
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  • David-StallardDavid-Stallard Registered Users Posts: 252 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    1st shot and the Egret on a stroll are just stunning, note to self - must get out earlier when the lakes are still.

    .DAVID.
    http://www.davidstallardphotography.com/

    Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    Sheesh. Another of these series where it is too hard to pick a favourite. So I'm just gonna go with 'great series' :)
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited September 28, 2010
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    Sheesh. Another of these series where it is too hard to pick a favourite. So I'm just gonna go with 'great series' :)

    The last one posted is clearly the best rolleyes1.gif
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,373 moderator
    edited September 28, 2010
    Wonderful!

    --- Denise
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  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited September 29, 2010
    Nice Arizona light there. Love the stilt shot. Nice reflection series.
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited September 29, 2010
    jwear wrote: »
    well by that look now I know why that shot is upside down rolleyes1.gif
    Hey Jeff, you nailed it! thumb.gif
    BigAl wrote: »
    Nice pics Joel, but I really like the stilt reflection! clap.gif
    Thanks very much, Al. That's pretty much my favorite as well.
    Gnome wrote: »
    1st shot and the Egret on a stroll are just stunning, note to self - must get out earlier when the lakes are still.

    .DAVID.
    Thanks, David. Yes indeed, nothing like shooting water fowl at dawn. nod.gif
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    Sheesh. Another of these series where it is too hard to pick a favourite. So I'm just gonna go with 'great series' :)
    Aw shucks, thanks Lindiwe. You're very kind.
    dlplumer wrote: »
    The last one posted is clearly the best rolleyes1.gif
    :nah rolleyes1.gif
    denisegoldberg wrote: »
    Wonderful!

    --- Denise
    Thanks, Denise! thumb.gif
    DsrtVW wrote: »
    Nice Arizona light there. Love the stilt shot. Nice reflection series.
    Thanks, DsrtVW. That calm water really made for nice reflections.

    Thanks again for the nice comments, all. thumb.gif

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 30, 2010
    Excellent set Joel. It looks like y'all had a great time.

    I noticed a bit of haloing around the stilt's head.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited September 30, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »
    Excellent set Joel. It looks like y'all had a great time.

    I noticed a bit of haloing around the stilt's head.
    that's because it is one of GODS creatures eek7.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited September 30, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »
    Excellent set Joel. It looks like y'all had a great time.

    I noticed a bit of haloing around the stilt's head.

    Hey thanks, Harry. We had a great time and all went out for a yummy breakfast after the shoot. I've made some good friends here on Dgrin.

    The halo on the stilt shot, is it a sharpening halo or something different? I'm not sure whether I'm seeing it or not. I processed all my shots together and probably used the same sharpening settings on this shot after I cropped it. The other shots aren't cropped, so that could explain it. Wish I had your eye.
    jwear wrote: »
    that's because it is one of GODS creatures eek7.gif

    Yeah, that's the ticket! :D
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    kdog wrote: »
    Hey thanks, Harry. We had a great time and all went out for a yummy breakfast after the shoot. I've made some good friends here on Dgrin.

    The halo on the stilt shot, is it a sharpening halo or something different? I'm not sure whether I'm seeing it or not. I processed all my shots together and probably used the same sharpening settings on this shot after I cropped it. The other shots aren't cropped, so that could explain it. Wish I had your eye.

    It looks like a sharpening halo to me. I would have selected the water in PS and then reversed the selection and then applied sharpening to the stilt only. I would also apply some NR to the water.

    I can see the haloing on my screen right above the stilt's head and shoulder at 100%. If you increase the zoom level to 200% its very apparent. A minor nit on a beautiful capture.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »

    I can see the haloing on my screen right above the stilt's head and shoulder at 100%. If you increase the zoom level to 200% its very apparent. A minor nit on a beautiful capture.

    I don't know...see that the same white area shows up in the stilt's reflection. It's obvious to me...don't need to blow it up.

    Makes me wonder if it's not a reflection from a secondary light source. If it were a sharpening thing, I think you would see more of it than what you do.
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited October 1, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »
    It looks like a sharpening halo to me. I would have selected the water in PS and then reversed the selection and then applied sharpening to the stilt only. I would also apply some NR to the water.

    I can see the haloing on my screen right above the stilt's head and shoulder at 100%. If you increase the zoom level to 200% its very apparent. A minor nit on a beautiful capture.
    Thanks, Harry. Very helpful. Funny, I used to do those sorts of selective processing all the time. But being way out of practice, I plumb never thought of it. That water is noisy as hell now that you mention it. eek7.gif

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited October 1, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    I don't know...see that the same white area shows up in the stilt's reflection. It's obvious to me...don't need to blow it up.

    Makes me wonder if it's not a reflection from a secondary light source. If it were a sharpening thing, I think you would see more of it than what you do.
    Actually the bird was backlit to some degree and that could be some or all of it. I'm not sure I actually see the halo. Power of suggestion can be a powerful thing. Although, I know I was pretty sloppy with the sharpening, so I'm sure that there are artifacts that my eye is just not trained well enough to see. So I trust Harry's judgment more than mine on this.

    Honestly, I didn't think these shots were good enough to spend a lot of time on them. I really just wanted to chronicle our outing more than anything. But they did start to grow on me once I started processing them, so I should have taken more care. One thing is for sure, the water in that shot is noisy. I can see that now. I should never have sharpened the water. I know better than that.

    Cheers,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    kdog wrote: »
    So I trust Harry's judgment more than mine on this.

    OMG! wings.gif

    Harry once told me I had a halo on one of my shots (I don't do halos) when it was actually a sloppy job of cloning out some light colored junk from the shot.:D

    Another thing...why are there hot spots (from water drops) on the actual beak and not it's reflection?headscratch.gif
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited October 1, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    Another thing...why are there hot spots (from water drops) on the actual beak and not it's reflection?headscratch.gif
    Good catch! eek7.gif I dunno, polarization effect off the water maybe? I'd say light level attenuation, but then the hotspots would still be there, just dimmer. So I'm going with polarization knocking them out. It's very curious though, I must say.
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    kdog wrote: »
    So I'm going with polarization knocking them out. It's very curious though, I must say.

    If that were true, then wouldn't the "halos" be missing in the reflection too? Hmmm...
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    OMG! wings.gif

    Harry once told me I had a halo on one of my shots (I don't do halos) when it was actually a sloppy job of cloning out some light colored junk from the shot.:D

    I told you there were holos whether they came from sharpening or sloppy cloning doesn't matter. blbl.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    Harryb wrote: »
    I told you there were holos whether they came from sharpening or sloppy cloning doesn't matter. blbl.gif

    rolleyes1.gifGood morning, Harry.
  • AllenAllen Registered Users Posts: 10,013 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2010
    I think the sun glint spots on the bill are directly back to the camera,
    reflection is a different angle so why they don't show. I notice with the 7D
    because of the greater/smaller pixels halos are much smaller and not a
    problem most times.
    All cool shots. thumb.gif
    Al - Just a volunteer here having fun
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  • PhotozzPhotozz Registered Users Posts: 80 Big grins
    edited October 2, 2010
    Awesome shots Joel! Got to love that lens for birds!!
    http://www.cv-photozz.smugmug.com/
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited October 3, 2010
    Allen wrote: »
    I think the sun glint spots on the bill are directly back to the camera,
    reflection is a different angle so why they don't show. I notice with the 7D
    because of the greater/smaller pixels halos are much smaller and not a
    problem most times.
    All cool shots. thumb.gif
    Thanks, Allen. Your theory on the missing beak highlights makes sense to me. Thanks for checking in.
    Photozz wrote: »
    Awesome shots Joel! Got to love that lens for birds!!
    Hey Chris, it was good seeing you again. Yeah, the lens is wonderful. I just need to find more occasions to use it. See you on our next outing. thumb.gif
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
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  • HntrHntr Registered Users Posts: 30 Big grins
    edited October 3, 2010
    My favorite is the three point stance, followed by the GBH.
  • joedifjoedif Registered Users Posts: 52 Big grins
    edited October 3, 2010
    Excellent reflections!! clap.gif
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    Joe D.

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  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited October 4, 2010
    Hntr wrote: »
    My favorite is the three point stance, followed by the GBH.
    joedif wrote: »
    Excellent reflections!! clap.gif
    Thanks, guys. Much appreciated. thumb.gif
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
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