Went another run to Lochwinnoch today but this time I went much earlier and the result was better light and more birds captured. I mostly used my 50d for this outing as the light was good and only used my 5dMKII as the light deteriorated. The place was really busy today as it's a holiday,so, there was lots of people around including many photographers.

I was really thrilled to see the woodpecker never mind capture one and of course the Goldfinches and Chaffinches as well, all I need now is some tits and I'll be very happy

1)


2)


3)


4)


5)


6)


7)

The second Chaff and the Last Goldfinch are smashing!

(and everyone needs some tits! )

xx

Quite beautiful Grant.

Cracking shots Grant!

Very nice Grant.

We've a woodpecker somewhere in the trees at the bottom of the garden but I can only ever hear him.

Great captures DJ

2, 4 & 6 really stand out for me

It might just be my monitor, but in image 3, the Goldfinch seems to have had his ready-brek before he came out, as he has a slight glow all around him.

You usually get this unwanted effect if your High Pass settings are set slightly too high in the old photoshop...or if indeed, you've had your ready-brek

Great shots DJ

Thanks MD. I never use photoshop filters or high-pass sharpening or any other jiggery-pokery on my images LOL in actual fact I have to turn down the sharpening on my RAW images

I've demonstrated high-pass on a full moon (flat) image before but really don't see the benefit from it.

When I resize for web I also use very little sharpening, depending on the image it could be between 20 and 36% maximum unsharp mask.

I'd also say that HDR images tend to have the glow you refer to rather than images which have to much sharpening applied, which, usually show jagged edges and grain. It's especially noticable on birds, around there feathers appear really crunchy and have no smoothness about them.

I have examined the RAW, 16bit TIFF and the JPG. I have noticed a transition from light to dark on the TIFF and the jpg but not on the RAW file. I have noticed it from his lower back to his tail, but not around him. Other than the conversion from RAW to 16bit TIFF and 8bit TIFF, jpg and a slight exposure gain, I don't know.

Well, if you've noticed it on his back and tail, then that's a relief.

At least I don't need a new monitor

Yeah, it's a weird one.
I really wouldn't worry about it DJ, no one else seemed to notice, and believe me, it doesn't detract from another fine set of images.

And I get what your saying about HDR images sometimes having this glow effect if they're not done right, but you definitely get it using the High Pass filter too if your settings are too high, and depending on which blending mode you then use.

MD

A couple more from Monday.

1)This one was taken at the closest focussing distance of my 400mm f5.6L lens, which is 2.5metre


2)