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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Shallow DOF VIII (Minimal Editing*)
Collection: Challenge Stuff
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1
Lens: Olympus 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD Zuiko Lens ED
Location: Stubblefield Lake, Texas, USA.
Date: Sep 23, 2017
Aperture: 7.0
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/400
Galleries: Portraiture, Birds
Date Uploaded: Sep 26, 2017

 A Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias) preening while perched on a stump, Stubblefield Lake, Texas, USA.

This photo is a good example of how amazing the IBIS in Olympus cameras really is. This is shot with a 2x TC at full zoom. So this is an effective 800mm shot that I was handholding from a kayak at 1/400 shutter speed.

This is a good example of why I don't like minimal challenges. In situations where the light is bright I under exposed because I would rather have detail in the whites and crush the shadows than the other way around. While shooting this shot the sun was moving in and out of cloud cover so at this moment it was behind the clouds and the photo was to under exposed. Well, not for a RAW and that's why I shoot RAW. I don't always have the luxury to shoot just for a challenge. In this instance I was shooting for work but knew it would afford me some good shots for this challenge, so I shot in RAW + JPG.

In RAW, just like in the darkroom which this restrictive editing is suppose to simulate, this photo can have the dark areas brightened and end up with a perfectly exposed photograph. This editing restriction basically simulates the film photographer who just took photos and had them developed at Walgreens. I really do wish it would change to allow RAW use and allow basic brightness, saturation, contrast changes. That would more simulate film photography because even those people who dropped of their film at Walgreens would get fixed photographs because the machines would do it automatically. Like clicking the auto button in LR.

Just my 2 cents.


[Oct. 3rd, 2017 07:36:37 PM]

Here is the photo with a proper edit.


Statistics
Place: 12 out of 66
Avg (all users): 5.8475
Avg (commenters): 6.0000
Avg (participants): 5.9615
Avg (non-participants): 5.7576
Views since voting: 824
Views during voting: 110
Votes: 59
Comments: 4
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Sony Alpha a1 II
Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
 10/07/2017 06:51:46 AM
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that meets the challenge well.

Another great image Ronnie, well done. I Think Mariuca has already said it all! An excellent critique that I wholeheartedly agree with. The composition is superb giving us an intimate viewpoint that helps us really engage with the bird’s moment. You are absolutely right to expose for the whites, I prefer the darker exposure you have here you have magnificent detail throughout, perfect…
OM System OM-1 Mark II
OM System 50-200mm f/2.8 IS PRO M.Zuiko Digital ED
10/04/2017 12:49:44 PM
mariuca Thanks for the wonderful comments, they are greatly appreciated.
Fujifilm X-T30
Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS
 10/04/2017 07:36:58 AM
I loved this shot. The composition is superbe and it says so much about the mystery of life of this beautiful bird. I much prefer this image to the one processed the "professional" way that while being more precise is more banal. I am not looking for a very accurate image of a heron that I can see on tv in the numeous NG great shows; I long for the mystery of that specific moment that you captured so well. Just look at the jewel like eye glistening from a velvety surrounding to understand my pov
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Sony DSLR-A550
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 09/27/2017 09:08:25 PM
very nice photo the bokeh is pleasing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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