Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Anonymous on September 28, 2009, 09:19:54 PM

Title: Lesser Yellowlegs
Post by: Anonymous on September 28, 2009, 09:19:54 PM

The ultimate camo pattern...

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Shorebirds/LesserYellowlegsCamo.jpg)

Wading along, minding his business...

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Shorebirds/LesserYellowlegsWading.jpg)

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Post by: Anonymous on October 25, 2009, 07:07:02 PM

Finally got the shots I've been hoping for, would love some C+C from everyone.

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Shorebirds/GreaterYellowlegsNeckStretchStare2.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Shorebirds/GreaterYellowlegsStare3.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Shorebirds/GreaterYellowlegsStarewTwigs2.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Shorebirds/GreaterYellowlegswTwigs3.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Shorebirds/GreaterYellowlegswTwigs.jpg)

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Post by: mr.sharp-photo on October 25, 2009, 07:25:59 PM

great shots.
the 2nd, 4th and 5th are the best. any bird photo of a bird looking straight at the camera ends up looking humourous and you loose the good looks that birds have. instead, you think "now i know why the term 'bird brain' is used to describe someone who is stupid!"

my suggestions? a little more brightness, since there is a lot of grey in the pictures. and perhaps bump the shadows/darks up as well (if you have CS4). otherwise, i love seeing its legs through the water, and the water looks great.

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Post by: Brian Bailey on October 25, 2009, 10:34:23 PM

I like the first 2 best, although the 4th is an interesting composition.

Also, your first series appears to be a Greater Yellowlegs, while the second series is a Lesser.  Note the proportionally larger, slightly upturned bill.

BB

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Post by: Bird Brain on October 26, 2009, 11:24:05 PM

Attila ... my two favourites are photos #2 and #4.  If one looks at photo #4 from a certain angle, it almost appears that the feet and legs are above water instead of under!  

Jo-Anne  :)

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Post by: Anonymous on October 27, 2009, 09:48:23 AM

Thanks Yogi - I always appreciate your comments.  Any suggestions on increasing the brightness while shooting?  ISO level maybe??

Thanks Brian - thanks for clarifying the difference between the two, some days I'm left scratching my head, especially when it comes to these two given their only real difference is the bill size.

Jo-Anne - thanks for your comments, they're always appreciated. :)

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Post by: What was that? on October 27, 2009, 11:13:55 AM

To get more brightness,
1. Most costly approach is to get a faster lens.
2. Use a flash if possible (I've seen many bird photographers use an extension magnifier (don't know what they are called) on their flash to get extra reach). Most good off camera flash units will have a zoom feature as well (my Sony goes up to 85mm, 58 GN, the Nikon SB900 goes up to 200mm, but with lower GN).
3. Alternately - shoot RAW, allows for more recovery as the bit range is greater.
4. Increase your ISO to allow for fast enough shutter speed, however picture is likely to reduce in quality to higher you go. Of course the more you crop, the more the gain is noticeable.
5. Photoshop tricks abound. For a quick fix, I adjust levels (white and black points as well as adjusting midtones to increase contrast), then adjust saturation (usually increase it to give a warmer overall cast is possible). Some people select in camera adjustments (e.g. vivid), doing this in Photoshop (I use Elements 7) allows for more control. Of course applying a little sharpening is also useful to bring out the best in the pics. (Overdoing anything can be as bad as/worse than not doing anything. I often take it too far and then back off some).
6. Wait around for better light.  :)
7. Creep closer.  :)

I'm sure other people have other suggestions as well.
Graham