Female Cardinal-- Help Please.. - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/24/2005 06:00:49 PM · #1

I am having a hard time Post-Processing a shot I took today.
I think it's saveable but I cant get it right.
My version Looks artifacty and I know it can be done better.

My Edit

Here is a link to the original if anyone has time to give it a try.

Original- (Large File)

Thanks,
Buzz

deapee

Kodak V803

03/24/2005 06:04:08 PM · #2

Your photo looks fine to me. I can't believe you only took that at 200mm -- cardinals seem to be so active and weary of their surroundings to me...well, there were two when I was last chasing them, so maybe they were 'excited' about eachother's presence.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/24/2005 06:15:42 PM · #3

they are pretty timmid birds. i have only been able to get shots from a distance. except for one or too when they were under the feeder.

nice shot BTW - i don't think the edit looks too bad. post a 100% crop of the edit, and area you are having trouble with...

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

03/24/2005 06:21:49 PM · #4

Originally posted by soup:

Not one particular area, just overall I think it came out too jaggied.
I also couldnt clone out the the shadow in the tail-feathers, which bothers me.
Maybe a larger crop of the bird also, Theres alot of file to work with..

Message edited by author 2005-03-24 18:23:08.

Apple iPhone

03/24/2005 06:27:16 PM · #5

The shadow on the tail feathers makes the bird sitting where she is. Part of the problem is she's the color of the background. When you lightened the picture slightly, she showed better, but shes too light. Try darkening just her to her original colors and see what you can do to slightly lighten the background behind her.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

03/24/2005 06:58:46 PM · #6

I uploaded it to SIG for the heck of it.
And for some reason it looks cleaner there?
Take a look for comparison.

Photosig

2Shay

Nikon Z7 FX

03/24/2005 07:15:35 PM · #7

Originally posted by buzzrock:

I uploaded it to SIG for the heck of it.
And for some reason it looks cleaner there?
Take a look for comparison.

Photosig

For one thing the photo you uploaded to photosig is a much larger file.

Original here:

File Size: 32962bytes 640x473 pixels

Photosig file:

File 204368 bytes 685x506 pixels

2Shay

03/24/2005 07:22:12 PM · #8

Originally posted by 2Shay:

Originally posted by buzzrock:
I uploaded it to SIG for the heck of it.
And for some reason it looks cleaner there?
Take a look for comparison.

Photosig

For one thing the photo you uploaded to photosig is a much larger file.

Original here:

File Size: 32962bytes 640x473 pixels

Photosig file:

File 204368 bytes 685x506 pixels

2Shay

That is very interesting, its the exact same file-
Does DPC reduce it for some reason, is it a setting in "my portfolio" Im missing..
The file on my HD is 685x506 and (204,368) the exact same as the SIG

Message edited by author 2005-03-24 19:27:19.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

03/25/2005 01:42:03 PM · #9

I had a pair together in the backyard today!

It sure is hard to get them close together!!

Message edited by author 2005-03-25 13:43:07.

2Shay

Nikon Z7 FX

03/25/2005 02:36:18 PM · #10

Dim7,

I know that DPC has limits on photo & file size for the challenges. These limits are 640 pixels maximum length or width and 150 Kbytes for maximum file size. My assumption here is that DPC will automatically clip the photo if your photo is bigger in either manner. Since your photo was bigger in both respects, it looks like they made the adjustments for you. If you make the changes manually in PS or similar, you will probably get better results than what is automatically done here.

2Shay

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/25/2005 02:46:48 PM · #11

Originally posted by Dim7:

I had a pair together in the backyard today!
...
It sure is hard to get them close together!!

That's what the males think! :)
Seriously though, they take turns keeping an eye out for potential danger.

If your interested in Cardinals and other birds you won't want to miss the resources at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. (Another great place to visit in Ithaca, NY if you're planning to visit the area.)

gwphoto

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

03/25/2005 03:23:08 PM · #12

The photo looks great to me. If you want to be able to have the male come into your area, here is a little trick I learned years ago. Cardnials mark out there territory in the spring with their song. Tank a tape recorder and make a recording. Then when ever you want the cardinal to return. turn up the volume and play the recording. No kidding it works, he will come to see who is in his territory. Just tell your firends you have a pet cardnial that will come when you call him. LOL LOL

03/25/2005 08:05:32 PM · #13

Originally posted by gwphoto:

Thats to funny,another thing I read about Cardinals recently is that they will cheat on each other during mating season!
Ray and I saw a couple of these today!We had a good day!

03/25/2005 08:07:02 PM · #14

Originally posted by 2Shay:

Thanks for the tip!