Green Thing: Grackle


Posted by Juli Wilcox on Thu May 06, 2004 12:42 am

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Image
Grackle

Curious what you think about the brilliant dark colors; I was rarely able to get an image with satisfactory exposure while shooting film. Now I tend to underexpose by about a third or half and bring up the exposure to exactly where I want it in PS. I seem to do better with highlights this way also. Digital, 500mm L IS + 2X teleconverter, 1/100 sec at f/8, ISO 200, 60% crop. Thanks in advance for any comments.
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by Mike Wilson on Thu May 06, 2004 2:19 am
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Gorgeous irridescent colors and detail Juli! The over the shoulder pose is great but the image size for such a smallish bird is so cool. Excellent work. Darn blades of grass!! :wink:
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by Neil Fitzgerald on Thu May 06, 2004 3:55 am
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Cool look, cool colours :D
 

by Jim Neely on Thu May 06, 2004 5:18 am
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Those colors are great. These guys can be really pretty when the exposure id hsndled well.

Nice work.

jn
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by Chas on Thu May 06, 2004 8:59 am
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Julie, the clor, exposure and detail could not be better.

Congrats on a beauty. You should be proud of this one!

Best,

Chas
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by AlexC on Thu May 06, 2004 9:03 am
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I disagree with Chas!!!
This is a wonderful morsel, killer eye, wonderful iridescent plumage, great pose/composition , nice DOF and killer colors!!!, Way to go Lady!!!! Congrats!! 8) 8) 8)
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by Vincent on Thu May 06, 2004 9:11 am
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Hi Juli,

This is wonderful! Congrats!

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by Heather Forcier on Thu May 06, 2004 10:12 am
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I especially like the brilliant dark colors in this. Superb image and composition. Would be even better, in my opinion, if the grass wasn't in the frame, or if it was still there but not all around the same height - gives a "mowed" look, but that's just my $.02. Could be just the jealousy talkin'... :)
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by Laura Stiefel on Thu May 06, 2004 11:19 am
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Hi Juli,

I think the colors are amazing here and the composition is right on. Looking closely after reading Heather's comments, I agree that the grasses give this a mowed look. I actually like the grasses in the frame, I just wish they didn't have wacked off white tips.
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by Mike Danzenbaker on Thu May 06, 2004 11:25 am
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Juli,

I've certainly never seen the colors on this bird so well rendered !

I agree with your strategy of slight underexposure to be compensated for later in PS.

Regarding the photo as a whole, I rather agree with Heather's comments about the grass, and also I'd rather have a little more room on the top and sides, but these are a matter of taste and intention.
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by Paul Skoczylas on Thu May 06, 2004 11:35 am
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I don't think I've ever seen a photo, of any species of bird, which portrays the iridescence as well as this one!

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by Alan Melle on Thu May 06, 2004 11:52 am
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Very nice! A bit tight on the left but you certainly caught the iridescence of this bird beautifully.
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by Alan Murphy on Thu May 06, 2004 12:02 pm
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Its a very well done photo showing the true beauty of this bird. it's just a little tight for me.
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by Wil Hershberger on Thu May 06, 2004 1:24 pm
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Stunning shot Juli. This is the best bronzed grackle shot I have ever seen. Very well done, I love the low perspective, the brilliant iridescence and the details.
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by AForns on Thu May 06, 2004 1:25 pm
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Juli can't say enough good things about this image. All is great, particularly like the low angle and look on the bird. The colors are wonderful !!!! I really like it!! Congratulations

Going under a bit seems to have help you and this image is about perfect. Keep in mind that most of your information will be toward the right side of the Histogram and continuos underexposing and then compensating in PS won't get you the best possible image.

Hope to be able to get one as good as this one some day :D
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by george forrest on Thu May 06, 2004 4:27 pm
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Nice one Juli. lots of impact, great colors and sharpness. You actually made this guy look good.
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by Ed K on Thu May 06, 2004 8:04 pm
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Juli - That's getting up close and personal. Everything here is spot on. Beautiful colors. Great shot!

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by Chris Valentine on Thu May 06, 2004 8:21 pm
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The colors look great and I love the tight crop!
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by RichardMittleman/Gon2Foto on Thu May 06, 2004 11:39 pm
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One of the nicest looking grackles that I've ever seen
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