Whooping Crane

[jckegley]

Any opinions out there on what I could have done to get a better shot?

I keep thinking that if I had lowered the tripod and sat on the ground (as opposed to standing) then I could have eliminated some of the bright water reflection. I think the brightness of the water distracts from the bird.

I guess another option would be to use flash, but I dislike flash and have had only limited success using one.

Would a filter have helped in this case?

Taken at Lake Kissimmee (public boat launch at the end of Joe Overstreet Rd)

Joe Overstreet Road (http://www.wildlifesouth.com/Locations/Florida/JoeOverstreet.html)

[Photobiologist]

Hello Joe,

I think you are right, a lower point of view would have decreased some of the bright water & made for a somewhat stronger image as well.

Fill flash too could have helped show some of the colors a little better. What does it look like with a curves adjustment or gray slider in levels to lighten the image a tad? (You may have to bump saturation up a hair after doing that as well). Does that help the colors pop a bit better while still looking like what you saw?

I wish I could see a whooper that close!!

Thanks for sharing.

[rpk717]

All of Robert's suggestions sound right to me. I would really like to see one of these guys. Great capture.

[jckegley]

As I recall when I used the middle slider in levels to lighten it up it also lighted up the water. But I might try your suggestion about using curves.... maybe I can isolate what I am wanting to lighted/darken better with that tool.

[Photobiologist]

Or you could use a layer mask to keep the effect only on the bird???

[mrsisu]

Hi I think an off camera fill flash with flash cut back ? -1.0 to -1.7 (perhaps with a flash extender needed as well ) might have brightened up the crane a bit. Not sure you were using a lens that would have allowed you to polarize this some (to cut down on reflection) or if the light or your positioning would have allowed it . Sorry I can't speak much re photoshop but I would love to have taken this shot or even seen the bird.

[wetbelly]

I concur with the previous comments. I think you should give flash another shot. If you have a TTL flash and dial it back to -1 to -1&2/3 you get a fairly natural look. I rarely shoot birds without fill. If you are really anti flash, then I suggest a sherpa that can hold a gold reflector to put some light on the subject. ;)