Hummingbird

I envy all of you who take great bird shots! I'm thinking I should

probably crop about 1/3 more off the bottom of this....any thoughts

would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Diane,

It is a colorful image , with a very nice subject.

While cropping is always a choice for presentation, the issue with your image is the lack of sharpness.

The focus appear to be soft. However, since you used 1/25 second exposure with a 200mm lens, that could also be why the image is not sharp.

I noted that you used ISO 800 at F/7, too.

Under bright daytime conditions, at F/7 using ISO 800, your exposure should be at least 1/3200 second. So the lighting must have been very low to require 1/25 second.

If you should have the opportunity to image this scene again under the same lighting, I would recommend using a tripod.

Best Regards, Mike

Hi Diane. Actually, you have two problems here. The critical focus point is not on the bird but looks like it is an inch or two towards the camera. I say this because the perch ring on the feeder seems more in focus than the bird. The second problem is that the main subject, the bird, is crowded off to the left side of the frame. Removing material on the bottom is not going to help.

What I would do if I had to save this shot is to try to get as much sharpness from your editing program as possible. I use Photoshop and would sharpen this with the unsharp masking or smart sharpen filter.

Next, I would crop the majority of the feeder bottle out completely and clone some of that nice soft green background to the left of the bird. If you are patient I think you can still get something attractive here.  I posted an quick example. Regards.

here it is

I completely agree with Mike though!

Best regards Diane!!

PDE

Dianne,

While Walter is trying to help, the use of any sharpening tools on an image that lacks definition does not work well. It is best to get the image focused properly.

What I see in more noise developed from sharpening than was present in your original posting.

Best Regards,  Mike

I just wanted to post a couple additions to a number of great suggestions already made.  Forgive me if I sound redundant with a couple.'

If you are not using RAW setting in your resolution, please do or get it and use it.  Those major manipulations and great comments made, were and are:  sharpness, cropping, focus(get out of auto mode and use manual on tripod), adding some "black" in Bridge and contrast will help with vibrance of colors and a hint of + saturation will make that bird POP!  Get more light!!  put white sheets on your floor below the feeder. Point a mirror on the feeder... then lower your ISO down to 100 or lower.  The buzz of the wings are a natural and depth of field will always look great with the background non-distracting and fuzzy!  You might consider using a polarizer!  Always shoot 20 degrees off center axis!  Removing any glare on that bird WILL greatly enhance what nature has already given with those wonderful colors!  Suggested cropping will enhance your composition!  Try to get your shutter speed up to or just over 1/50 to 1/60 of a second.   Oh... I suggest you use a lens that has a larger aperture!  I realize 200 mm gets you close to your subject but more light behind a blind...will provide you the ability to enlarge with that sharpness you need!  Johnboy 

Mike –

Thanks so much for the comments.  When I took this shot, I was using a tripod but it was early evening and the feeder location was in the shade so it was darker than normal. I was not using a delay however and that may be part of the issue. Since I took this, I ‘found’ the setting for the 2 sec. delay. It’s amazing what you can fine by reading the manual!    

Walter,

I appreciate your thoughts – and the sharpened shot.   I agree with you about the focus.. I was using autofocus (since it was darker and these old eyes don’t see as well in the dark!) and even now have trouble getting autofocus to focus on what I want. I’m still working on photoshop skills  and am glad to get any pointers on what to do and how to do it. There is so much to learn! 

Diane

Pierre,

Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Diane

John,

Wow – where to begin!  I think I’ll have to give some serious time to your comments (but that’s good!)  I never would have thought about any of the things you suggested. I’m not sure what you mean by “adding some black in Bridge” though.  Could you explain a little more?

Thanks

Diane

Diane,

I sent you a direct message but let me explain here for the benefit of others.

"Black" in Adobe CS, Creative Suite series, is a function of Bridge, the companion tool of Adobe PhotoShop.  When you shoot in RAW resolution, bring those pictures into your computer and launch PhotoShop.  Your photos will be entitled with an extension called NEF.  RAW capturing, gathers more information than you would believe and gives the operator the chance to manipulate things like exposure latitude, as much as 3 stops under or over exposed.  Black!  Essentially it removes white space in your subject rendering the Red Green Blue channels of it's color space a bit more brilliant.  There's a "Recovery" mode that helps with detail lost and cleaning up time of day shooting tweeking the white balance through color temperature manipulation, which is often times very beneficial.  I've just scratched the surface of the many things shooting in RAW will afford you.  Go to Adobe's website and browse around there searching for Adobe CS5 and see what you're missing.  I hope I've teased you enough.