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booju
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p.1 #1 · Backyard visitors...

Hi Folks...I haven't been in for awhile and thought I should post a few images I've recently shot in my backyard...I haven't been able to get out much lately so I'm trying to take advantage of what I have available to get some quality practice time in behind my tiny glass and laptop...

I'm trying to get all I can in-camera and in post-processing out of my XTI 70-200mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4x/TC gear...

These were processed using PSE 6 and NN-plug-in...

I'm looking for some really tough and discriminating C&C here from you all...Please!...

I am very passionate about wanting to learn so much more and I believe this will only help me and challenge me to do better the next time around...Many of you know that I only recently took up this wonderful hobby and I believe I am progressing at a decent pace but I want to go so much further as many of you have progressed likewise...

The learning curve has been tumultous at times no doubt, but the friends I've made here and abroad in the process has been very gratifying...Thanks to you all!

Okay...I'm ready for my MEDICINE...

Is it okay if I close my ears...nah...I'll take it STRAIGHT....

I genuinely appreciate the help!!!

....Thank you!.....

Roland

Edited on Oct 19, 2008 at 10:40 AM · View previous versions

Oct 09, 2008 at 07:22 PM

Lil Judd
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p.1 #2 · Backyard visitors...

Roland,

it's a nice series.

My top picks would be... # 2, 3, & 4

Lil

Oct 09, 2008 at 07:31 PM

mercapto
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p.1 #3 · Backyard visitors...

Nice series

I like #2 best

They feel a bit tight though, are these crops or full frame ? If they are crops I'd crop them with a bit more space around the birds, especially on the left and the top so they aren't centered

Love the sharpness

Oct 09, 2008 at 09:30 PM

booju
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p.1 #4 · Backyard visitors...

Lil Judd wrote:
Roland,

it's a nice series.

My top picks would be... # 2, 3, & 4

Lil

Thanks Lil...I appreciate you stopping by to comment!

Oct 09, 2008 at 10:02 PM

booju
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p.1 #5 · Backyard visitors...

mercapto wrote:
Nice series

I like #2 best

They feel a bit tight though, are these crops or full frame ? If they are crops I'd crop them with a bit more space around the birds, especially on the left and the top so they aren't centered

Love the sharpness

Thank you for your thoughts! These are crops and I will definitely concentrate on opening up my images a bit more by adding space and getting my subjects off-center...I really thank you for sharing this!

I completely missed it as I was so focused on trying to work on my pp techniques and skills that I was into ENLARGEMENTS as it was much easier for my old middle-aged eyes to see...

Its super advice to me and worth its weight in GOLD...Next time I'll focus on composition a lot more as I should!!!

Thank you very much!!!

Oct 09, 2008 at 10:08 PM

anthony whitmo
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p.1 #6 · Backyard visitors...

Howdy Roland !!

Nothing wrong with these shots at all ! Great exposures and details for crops.

The more you fill the frame the more detail you will see
Composition has been mentioned > There are times you can center a critter and it's ok. It's all about feel and mood. Just try to work on your compositions. YOu don't want the subject cropped to tight and you like to see the critter looking into the scene and not at the edge of your photo.

You did great here and they look very good.

ant

Oct 09, 2008 at 10:12 PM

Shasoc
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p.1 #7 · Backyard visitors...

Hi Roland. I can really see some great progress in these. Details are sweet and the exposure looks good. Love that Brasilian Cardinal bird, and the Java Finch is awesome. Where did I see it before?

OK let's look at some improvements. No too much to say. The first shot could've benefit from a fill flash, or you could opend the shaded side a bit more. The second shot: if you look at the color of the sky it is a bit off (compared to the other shots), wich indicates a non perfect exposure (that could be also done using the exposure slide in ACR). So you may want to touch it a bit again to get the right one. That is all as far as suggestions go.
As I said a very good job with this set that shows a what a fast learner you are. Keep up the good work, my friend.
Aloha.
Socrate

Edited on Oct 09, 2008 at 10:44 PM · View previous versions

Oct 09, 2008 at 10:14 PM

booju
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p.1 #8 · Backyard visitors...

anthony whitmo wrote:
Howdy Roland !!

Nothing wrong with these shots at all ! Great exposures and details for crops.

The more you fill the frame the more detail you will see
Composition has been mentioned > There are times you can center a critter and it's ok. It's all about feel and mood. Just try to work on your compositions. YOu don't want the subject cropped to tight and you like to see the critter looking into the scene and not at the edge of your photo.

You did great here and they look very good.

ant

Howzit Ant!!!

Thank you so very much for adding in your comments here! I appreciate the lessons you've shared and it will add much to my foundation...I will most definitely not crop so heavily for composition and to get even more detail and IQ....

Thank you very much for sharing! Its a big help!

Roland

Oct 09, 2008 at 10:39 PM

Karl Witt
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p.1 #9 · Backyard visitors...

Hello Roland, good to see you back and wow!

#1 Nice shot, good detail on the shadow side. Would like to have seen a bit more head turn but that is a 'nit'

I am thinking vertical crop possibly on this one??
#2 A bit of an awkward angle for me, maybe a bit soft at the beak but still a good shot and different and well done
#3 Very cool bird, you may get a bit more detail in the red head by dropping a bit of the red saturation. Maybe a sitting a bit high in the frame and a bit tight at the tail

#4 I like it

Pretty colors, nice exposure and details
#5 Very nice, great detail maybe a tiny bit soft at the beak, just a bit cramped in the frame, need a bit more room looking left IMO.

Now, these are very good IMO, trying to be nit-picky but remember, just my opionions. You should be very proud of this work. You did a nice job keeping the noise out of the BG's and have very good color and exposures. Impressive post Roland you have efficiently applying what you have seen and learned

Karl

Oct 09, 2008 at 10:41 PM

Gil_W
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p.1 #10 · Backyard visitors...

I think they are quite nice and well done. I normally try to get the eye of the bird under one of the "Thirds" points and this helps to get the bird a bit more room in the picture, most of the times. I like tight bird images but the last is a tad too tight even for me. Nice detail on the birds but a bit of fill light could help in spots.

I have never seen a picture of a Brazilian Cardinal. Different. Reminds me of a cross between a mockingbird and a cardinal. Love the Java Finch, nice image of it also.

Gil
P.S. Listen to Socrate, he's the expert. Can never go wrong following his advice

Oct 09, 2008 at 10:42 PM

booju
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p.1 #11 · Backyard visitors...

Shasoc wrote:
Hi Roland. I can really see some great progress in these. Details are sweet and the exposure looks good. Love that Brasilian Cardinal bird, and the Java Finch is awesome. Where did I see it before?

OK let's look at some improvements. No too much to say. The second shot could've benefit from a fill flash, or you could opend the shaded side a bit more. The second shot: if you look at the color of the sky it is a bit off (compared to the other shots), wich indicates a non perfect exposure (that could be also done using the exposure slide in ACR). So you may want to touch it a bit again to get the right one. That is all as far as suggestions go.
As I said a very good job with this set that shows a what a fast learner you are. Keep up the good work, my friend.
Aloha.
Socrate

Socrate, well what can I say!

You've been so kind and generous and I've worked real hard 24/7 trying to learn the art of post-processing!

I'm learning that less is usually more and that I need to train my eyes in the most delicate use of the tools available! I'm also learning to try new things in the use of the tools, and not being afraid to experiment with my images as its all practice for now...

Thank you for sharing again and I will watch for the use of a fill-flash and the use of the exposure slider! I really appreciate these suggestions to as always my friend!

Aloha!

Roland

Oct 09, 2008 at 11:12 PM

Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #12 · Backyard visitors...

Roland, I waited until I got home on a calibrated monitor before I replied. It doesn't look like I needed to. The color, exposures, sharpening are all very good. My only nits would be the comps. That has already been mentioned so I won't repeat it. This is a wonderful series and you should be proud. Very well done. Got to love the Brazilian Cardinal!

Tim

Oct 10, 2008 at 12:15 AM

booju
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p.1 #13 · Backyard visitors...

Karl Witt wrote:
Hello Roland, good to see you back and wow!

#1 Nice shot, good detail on the shadow side. Would like to have seen a bit more head turn but that is a 'nit'

#4 I like it

Karl

Hi Karl...

I respect your opinions and sincerely desire them! I appreciate you taking the time to NIT-PICK as you say and why I have chosen to post here! I want all the NIT-PICKERS to come on out as that's the only way I will learn! Once I have an idea of how to properly assess my images then I can start to have much more control and putting my own flavor to them!...

I just want to learn to be better at everything...BOTH in-camera and in post...

Thank you my friend I appreciate it!

Roland

Oct 10, 2008 at 12:30 AM

booju
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p.1 #14 · Backyard visitors...

Gil_W wrote:
I think they are quite nice and well done. I normally try to get the eye of the bird under one of the "Thirds" points and this helps to get the bird a bit more room in the picture, most of the times. I like tight bird images but the last is a tad too tight even for me. Nice detail on the birds but a bit of fill light could help in spots.

I have never seen a picture of a Brazilian Cardinal. Different. Reminds me of a cross between a mockingbird and a cardinal. Love the Java Finch, nice image of it also.

Gil
P.S. Listen to Socrate, he's the expert. Can never go wrong following his advice

HI Gil,

I sincerely appreciate your comments and teaching as well!!! I'll definitely give that a try about the EYE and the rule of thirds working for me...Once I can get that down I'll have a better eye and be able to work around that suggestion! This is TERRIFIC

...This is all really great HELP!!!...Thank you my friend for this and the kind words about the images!

Roland

Oct 10, 2008 at 12:38 AM

booju
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p.1 #15 · Backyard visitors...

Tim Kuhn wrote:
Roland, I waited until I got home on a calibrated monitor before I replied. It doesn't look like I needed to. The color, exposures, sharpening are all very good. My only nits would be the comps. That has already been mentioned so I won't repeat it. This is a wonderful series and you should be proud. Very well done. Got to love the Brazilian Cardinal!

Tim

HI Tim...

Thank you for offering your opinions as I value it also as I do many here! I've come a long way pretty quickly...I was given tools and techniques to practice and become familiar with this past month and only now things are just beginning to click for me and you can see that in my images...I came here desiring the most severest scrutiny only because I want to get better! I am so fascinated with photography and there is so much to learn still!..I just want to make sure that I'm heading in the right direction...It'll take a good while more til I arrive, but I will get there with friends like you folks and solid commitment, effort, and perseverance...Nothing like HARD WORK as its all so good for the SOUL

...Its gratifying!

Roland

Oct 10, 2008 at 12:50 AM

Rob Tillyer
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p.1 #16 · Backyard visitors...

Nice backyard Roland, and nice job on these captures.

Rob

Oct 12, 2008 at 06:42 PM

Hide Takahashi
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p.1 #17 · Backyard visitors...

Roland,

This is an excellent series. I haven't seen Brazilizn Cardinal and Java Finch
so they are my favorites.#3 is well-composed and it's sharp. Java Finch has a nice background and I like the color and the mood.
Thanks for sharing.

Hide

Oct 12, 2008 at 06:54 PM

Migara
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p.1 #18 · Backyard visitors...

Super shots Booju. They are all nice but that Brazilian Cardinal has to be my fav. Nice looking bird.

Oct 13, 2008 at 10:35 AM

booju
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p.1 #19 · Backyard visitors...

Rob Tillyer wrote:
Nice backyard Roland, and nice job on these captures.

Rob

Thanks Rob!

Yep, the backyard is definitely proving to be a great alternative in allowing me to shoot much more for sure! As a noob I need all the PRACTICE I can get...

Oct 13, 2008 at 06:33 PM

booju
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p.1 #20 · Backyard visitors...

Hide Takahashi wrote:

Roland,

This is an excellent series. I haven't seen Brazilizn Cardinal and Java Finch
so they are my favorites.#3 is well-composed and it's sharp. Java Finch has a nice background and I like the color and the mood.
Thanks for sharing.

Hide

Thank you very much Hide-san...I appreciate the kind words and find it very encouraging!

Yes, the Brazilian Cardinals are my favorites too and their red/orange heads vary in color quality! Also the striking markings of those small Java finches offer me some very beautiful shades of contrast to capture.

Its been fun for sure and I haven't even really begun...

I'm really looking forward to the PRACTICE...

Oct 13, 2008 at 06:51 PM

Mr Zoom
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p.1 #21 · Backyard visitors...

If you really want some serious nit picking then your going to have to do worse than these

Ok, that java finch looks a tad soft and the last carinal perhaps a tad over sharpened - how's that? Otherwise, I'd be darn proud were they mine, especially since you were shooting with a little 70-200 pop-gun

Oct 14, 2008 at 01:53 AM

harshaj1
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p.1 #22 · Backyard visitors...

Excellent set. Nice details and colors.
Harsha

Oct 14, 2008 at 01:58 AM

GAREN
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p.1 #23 · Backyard visitors...

Excellent series, can't add anything else as far as C & C is concern, thanks for posting them.

Garen

Oct 14, 2008 at 02:02 AM

booju
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p.1 #24 · Backyard visitors...

Mr Zoom wrote:
If you really want some serious nit picking then your going to have to do worse than these

m

Mr Zoom...

I really appreciate your kind words as they are a great source of encouragement! I'm really proud of these shots ESPECIALLY after receiving all the wonderful comments and very constructive criticism...

I will become a far better photographer and it will benefit me by giving me a stronger foundation to build upon as I pursue my goals!

Thanks a million from the POP-GUNNER...

Roland

Oct 14, 2008 at 03:50 AM

booju
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p.1 #25 · Backyard visitors...

harshaj1 wrote:
Excellent set. Nice details and colors.
Harsha

Thanks Harsha I appreciate you stopping by to look and including your comments as well!!! I respect your work and talent and its a great inspiration!

I can only hope one day with hard work, effort, and perseverance I, too will fulfull my dreams!

Roland

Oct 14, 2008 at 03:53 AM


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