Red-breasted Merganser - 1D Mark II


Posted by LHays on Wed May 05, 2004 4:46 am

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The new camera arrived Wednesday and I've only had a short amount of time to try it out. It is going to be something else.

I found this friendly merganser at my favorite lake. The light was poor and the batteries in my flash gave out so I did the best that I could when she caught her fish. She chased it and brought it out covered with algae....thus the algae on her beak, hanging down, and on the fish. She shook it off to get most of the algae off. The fish is already half swallowed.

There is a great deal of detail in the original but it's been hard getting this small version to show it without oversharpening....which I think I did. I'm limited with the Canon RAW converter at the moment (I use Mac) and do not like the new version. I'm finding the images somewhat soft but the color and saturation are wonderful. It's going to take me some time to figure out the best way to process them. I'm not crazy about how this one turned out but it's the best that I could do for now.

Canon 1D Mark II, 500mmL IS, shot with towel on window of car
ISO 400, f/11, ss 1/320, +2/3EV
Photoshop: levels, USM, shadow/recovery tool, etc.
Lana Hays
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by Jim Neely on Wed May 05, 2004 5:22 am
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Congrats on thge new toy.

The image is well done, just wish your flash batteries hadn't died.

jn
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by Peter Wallack on Wed May 05, 2004 6:31 am
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An auspicious beginning. Now buy batteries!! :roll: :lol:
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by KK Hui on Wed May 05, 2004 6:32 am
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Congratulations on acquiring your new 1D2, Lana! :roll:

A nice shot and Wow! The fish is just enormous for this guy ...

In fact I'm longing to see some flight shots from you using the 1D2. You comments on how its AF tracking performs would be very useful too.
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by Alan Murphy on Wed May 05, 2004 6:32 am
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Lana,

This is great. A little over sharpened as you stated. Enjoy your new camera.
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by Juli Wilcox on Wed May 05, 2004 7:05 am
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Lana---a great opportunity to catch some good action! I also use a MAC. If you have PS 8 (CS 8), you can see your RAW images in the PS browser and make adjustments before converting in PS. It's faster and easier for me than the Canon File Viewer Utility software. My workflow is the fastest it's ever been, a few seconds at times, rather than a few minutes.
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by Larry Kaufman on Wed May 05, 2004 7:35 am
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Nice shot Lana. Amazing how big a fish these birds can choke down. I have a blurry shot of a Pied Grebe from this past weekend with a fish in the same predicament that is 1/4 as big as the grebe. Your Merganser Looks very nice to me and is an impressive shot with your towel window support. Everyone with Mark II's is making me extremely envious. I will have to live vicariously through others for some time to come. :D
 

by fredcor on Wed May 05, 2004 8:08 am
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Irrespective of your own & other critiques, I feel envious, it's a wonderful capture. Did it actually swallow that fish? It looks more like a fish was shoved down it's throat!
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by Alan Melle on Wed May 05, 2004 8:52 am
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Great catch, Lana! Like you said the lighting is a little flat but you captured great detail and terrific action by the duck. Hard to believe they can swallow a fish that big!
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by Bill Whala on Wed May 05, 2004 8:54 am
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Congratulations on the new purchase!! This is a fine start with it. I'm always amazed at how big of a fish some birds can swallow. :D
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by AlexC on Wed May 05, 2004 9:38 am
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Wonderful "Meal shot" in spite of the circumstances, pretty good exposure and pretty good detail, marginally over-sharpened or maybe it's the wet feathers that make her look so!!, Wishing you wonderful light to see the next killer shots!!!Congrats!! Well done!!! 8)
Enjoy the new toy!!! :wink:
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by Jill on Wed May 05, 2004 9:40 am
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Congrats, Lana !!! A superb catch with your new toy!!!
Glad it's not fishing line hanging from this enormous fish. :)
Juli's plan sounds excellent. As always, thanks for sharing!! :D :D
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by Heather Forcier on Wed May 05, 2004 1:21 pm
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Hi, Lana! I can't believe that fish...did the bird sink after it was done?

The lighting is probably more true to the scene, and despite the lack of flash it seems very fitting. I do notice some oversharpening, though. Great behavior in the image, I do like it.

I put my camera to Set 1, after setting up Set 1 to a sharpening level of 3. I haven't worked with it enough to see one of these RAW files through to print, but for web it has certainly worked okay. Actually, I find processing these Mark II images to be a dream...they are wonderful - easier than 10D or 1D files, in my opinion.

Wish I had a cooperative neighborhood merganser! :)
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by Juan E. Bahamon on Wed May 05, 2004 1:25 pm
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Lana:

Looks like with the new toy your natural skills will be well put to use. Mine may arrive tomorrow.
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by Bruce DiVaccaro on Wed May 05, 2004 2:13 pm
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Lana,

Nice shot. You did a great job capturing her with the fish.

Enjoy the new camera.
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by Jim Urbach on Wed May 05, 2004 5:05 pm
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Lana,

Now that's a mouthful. Looking forward to more great images with your new toy.

Jim
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by Greg Downing on Wed May 05, 2004 7:51 pm
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Lana, that's a mouthful! Very nice shot but with the light was better. The color and sharpness looks good. I don't like the new software either...but I LOVE the new camera.
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by Harold Stiver on Wed May 05, 2004 8:50 pm
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A great capture, Lana. The coloring on the side of the face and elsewhere looks excellent. It doesn't look oversharpened to me, just wet after its dive.
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by Cindy Marple on Wed May 05, 2004 10:02 pm
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What a catch- both for you and the bird! Really cool shot.
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by Chas on Thu May 06, 2004 9:10 am
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Lana, this image rocks. You continue to impress! :wink:

Best,

Chas
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