Cormorants at Sunrise--Exposure not quite right?

PGM

We have had two blue sky days in a row. Both mornings (shortly after sunrise) I drove down to a pond and took a few shots of the Cormorants sitting on the same stumps at the same time from the same shooting location. I have no idea why the water looked so different from day to day. Any help on exposure and post processing would be appreciated. These don't look quite right to me, but I can't figure out exactly why. :scratch Thanks so much, and Happy New Year! Best, Pam

1. Shot the first morning:



2. Shot this morning--and I toned down the colors in the water a bit compared to how they actually looked:



3. Another from this morning, colors cooled off some:



4. I wonder if this is a juvenile Cormorant?



5. Taken a few yards away from the other shots:



6. This was taken the day before from the other side of the pond in the late afternoon:

jsinon

First thing that comes to mind is that the water in 2-5 is much calmer and therefore possibly able to pick up reflections of the color on shore better. Also looks like the light is better in 2-5 as well, as if they were shot a little earlier than 1 and 6. #2 gets my vote for best of the bunch, that's for sure.

PGM

Thanks, Jeff-- I hadn't focused on the calmer water, and you are right, I did go out a few minutes earlier, though just a few! Many thanks, Pam

D90mark

I like your composition on these. I really like 4 and 5 and think a little PP would make them really pop. We get a lot of Cormorants here in the spring and summer, and I also struggle getting decent stuff when shooting them. I practice on them every time I see them and have found that lighting is really key. I get the best results early am and very late afternoon when the sun is less direct. The best shots I have pulled off on these guys was on a completely overcast day, the lighting was even and made shooting them a breeze.

Dennis Kaczor

Nice series Pam, they seemed to pose for you rather well in these. I like the lighting in these as well.

PGM

D90mark wrote: »

I like your composition on these. I really like 4 and 5 and think a little PP would make them really pop. We get a lot of Cormorants here in the spring and summer, and I also struggle getting decent stuff when shooting them. I practice on them every time I see them and have found that lighting is really key. I get the best results early am and very late afternoon when the sun is less direct. The best shots I have pulled off on these guys was on a completely overcast day, the lighting was even and made shooting them a breeze.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions! Happy New Year, Pam

PGM

Dennis Kaczor wrote: »

Nice series Pam, they seemed to pose for you rather well in these. I like the lighting in these as well.

Thanks, Dennis. I appreciate your looking them over! Happy New Year, Pam

Harryb

Its a good set Pam. The water color will vary based on the light, reflections (notice that the two shots with blue water had no reflections from plants), water movement, etc. I find that some of my best images have interesting color reflections in the water.

What you may want t try is to use the detail extractor filter from Photo Efex. Apply it with the brush tool to your subject and not to the whole image.

PGM

Harryb wrote: »

Its a good set Pam. The water color will vary based on the light, reflections (notice that the two shots with blue water had no reflections from plants), water movement, etc. I find that some of my best images have interesting color reflections in the water.

What you may want t try is to use the detail extractor filter from Photo Efex. Apply it with the brush tool to your subject and not to the whole image.

Thanks, Harry. I will try that for sure. Thanks for the coaching! Happy New Year, Pam

puzzledpaul

Dennis Kaczor wrote: »

Nice series Pam, they seemed to pose for you rather well in these. I like the lighting in these as well.

I'd agree - and another vote for #2
Sometimes the combo - blue water / nicely lit (oof) bg is attractive too (imo)

Any chance of a lower pov at this location?

pp

PGM

puzzledpaul wrote: »

I'd agree - and another vote for #2
Sometimes the combo - blue water / nicely lit (oof) bg is attractive too (imo)

Any chance of a lower pov at this location?

pp

Thanks, Paul for taking a look and for your suggestions. I think I got about as low as I could, walking down the hill towards the pond. The whole pond is surrounded by these tall green reeds that you see reflected at the top of the #2 photo, so if you get any lower, they are in your field of view. Also, although it is reasonably chilly this time of year, sometimes alligators are lolling around among the reeds, and I have too much respect for them to get very close. Harry tells me they are not aggressive, but one ate a Pony years ago on Avery Island, so I'm still cautious! Happy New Year! Best, Pam

tshaddick

They look good to me.

carlogalliani

very nice set

PGM

tshaddick wrote: »

They look good to me.

Thank you! I appreciate your looking them over. Best, Pam

PGM

carlogalliani wrote: »

very nice set

Thank you, Carlo. I always enjoy your posts, because much of the time they are species I haven't seen before. Best, Pam

PGM

I worked on trying to bring out more detail and getting the images to pop a little more. Here are three that I think are better, and thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions. Best, Pam

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2)



3)



4)