Je regret, ma petite egret.

[Guest]

I'm having real problems with this little bird.

1) it insists on being just too far away
2) it will pose against a dark, almost black, background of seaweed
3) it's too darn white.

So despite cranking on the -ev compensation when there is a hint of sun (absent on this shot) and exposing on the bird alone I'm failing to get a really good shot - it's so frustrating.

(If i get the bird exposed - the background is irretrievably dark.

This is the best of a very large bunch (exif in the gallery).



Nick

[Chillimonster]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

As long as the bird is still, you might want to try bracketing 2 or 3 exposures and combining them to recover the shadows / highlights?

Chris

[Barr1e]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

Hi Nick -

The bird looks as happy as you - NOT!

Regards. Barr1e

[PeterD]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

Nick,

This is an age old problem with egrets. When the tide is out you will find them looking for food amongst the seaweed which is inconveniently dark in colour

Chris's suggestion may be worth trying and you might get it to work with a single exposure. Make copies with the image overexposed and underexposed and combine them as suggested.

Another thing to bear in mind is, wait until the tide is in, the birds then usually fly to nearby pastures where the background is conveniently lighter
You may well then have better success without too much trouble.

Good luck

Peter

[Guest]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

Well I have seen a still Egret - but bouncing up and down on a yacht moored mid river rather rules out bracketed exposures.

Yes they do fly off as the tide comes in - you then get white birds against the dark trees of the Fal upper reaches.

Good suggestions though.

Thanks

Nick

[art frames]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

Nick

I thought you might see the funny side of this one. I am linking here to one of my exceptional bird shots from France of a flying egret.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/8003/size/big/cat//ppuser/107

I haven't embedded it as it is your thread. But it should give you a smile as you drink your grog, lashed to the mast wherever you are today.

PeterD is not allowed to tell me I should have used CAF. But it might just appeal to feet fetishists.

Had great promise for the feather detail though

[PeterD]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

Well I have seen a still Egret - but bouncing up and down on a yacht moored mid river rather rules out bracketed exposures.

Yes they do fly off as the tide comes in - you then get white birds against the dark trees of the Fal upper reaches.

Good suggestions though.

Thanks

Nick

Nick, my suggestions were for the future when you at last feel dry land under your feet.

Seriously, you still stuck in the Fal estuary? Was it meant to be a day trip that went wrong?

Peter

[PeterD]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

Nick

I thought you might see the funny side of this one. I am linking here to one of my exceptional bird shots from France of a flying egret.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/8003/size/big/cat//ppuser/107

I haven't embedded it as it is your thread. But it should give you a smile as you drink your grog, lashed to the mast wherever you are today.

PeterD is not allowed to tell me I should have used CAF. But it might just appeal to feet fetishists.

Had great promise for the feather detail though

Well Peter,

Now would I comment......

I would describe the shot as promising but a little late on the uptake - could do better

I like the feather detail you have though.

Peter

[Guest]

Re: Je regret, ma petite egret.

Thank you Peter (artframes), I have a few shots of feet/wings/head already. They do seem to move quite fast/suddenly.

Well I intended to be down here for a week or so, but now I'm trapped till next week at least. Current forecast is for S/SE winds 5-7 gusting gale force 8, sea state rough/very rough. Unless you've actual experienced a gale on open water you will not understand just how powerful the wind is. It is very rare to actually have gale force winds at ground level inland, so most people don't realise the weight of the wind. It's not just me - there are about 50 boats shuttling up and down the estuary swapping various positions of shelter. Most are considerable larger (say 40 ft - and size is cubic) than me.

Ah well - if I couldn't take a joke I wouldn't mess around on boats.

Force 6 is enough to make the tip of your beard touch your ears. Force 8 will drag you along by your spectacles.

Nick