Bird on a stone wall

[Markel253]

I had received a lens that I wanted to test out (Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 APO DG Macro) and went to one of the spots I often take pictures, a local duck pond. I chose this location because it offers a challenging spot where I could try the lens under sometimes less than ideal situations. This picture was taken on a tripod (yes, unusual for me) at the extreme end of the lens's focal length ... again, not the ideal, but I needed to know what it is and isn't capable of. This was the original:



Aperture: f/9
Shutter speed: 1/500 sec
ISO: 800
Lens: Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Focal length: 300 mm
Nikon D3100
© Mark L. Fendrick

Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to bracket the exposure as the bird was only there briefly, as I feel that doing so might have helped in the area of the bird that was overexposed. However, I wanted to see what I could do with the shot anyway, and came up with this:



Working with the RAW file, I corrected for the normal distortion of the lens (using the profile provided in Photoshop), reduced the exposure a bit and adjusted the clarity and vibrancy. I cropped it as you see and then added a little unsharp mask.

While it is far from my best photo, and would generally not display it, I am putting it out here for discussion, and any suggestions you might have - and what you might have done different in PP - are welcome.

[ryder]

Since you mentioned that you have the RAW file I wonder why you don't make a copy with the highlights on the breast properly exposed and then layer the current image over that dark version. They you could lightly brush out the over exposed areas with the eraser tool to bring the bottom layer into view, thus fixing your blown highlights.

Also, while it is just my opinion, I would crop to eliminate the vertical stone edge as it is a visual distraction across the bottom of the image. Good luck, Mark

[Markel253]

Thanks. When I get back to the computer I will see if there is enough digital information to do that.

I notice that you have the Sigma 70-300. Do you use it much? What do you think of it?

[HarshPhotographer]

I really like the original, but with that being said the 2nd photo isn't bad either.

[kb93]

I think the dark shadows behind the bird are distracting.