ISO 1600 test shots...Barred Owl

ISO 1600 test shots...Barred Owl · 07:35 AM

I was out doing some test shots with a Vivitar 300mm f5.5 that I recently disassembled and cleaned fungus out of when this young Barred Owl flew into the tree about 20 yards from me. He was hiding in the shadows so I decided to try to up the ISO to 1600 and see how they turned out. PP was adjust white balance, highpass sharpen, and slight noise reduction all done in Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2.

*ist DL2, Vivitar 300mm f5.5 T-4 Pentax Screw mount, ISO 1600, Shutter speed 180th of a second, Aperture f8.0, distance 25-30 feet.

Image #1

Image #2

Image #3

Any thoughts, suggestions, comments are welcome.

Ray

heliphoto · 03-17-2009, 08:40 AM

Nice Ray! How lucky they owl just flew in when you needed a subject. Focus looks a touch sharper to me in #2 and #3, so I prefer those two...

The only notable deficiency is the chromatic aberration and purple fringing visible, which is of course common when shooting leaves and branches against the bright sky (especially with some older lenses). Luckily, neither the subject nor the background contain cyan (the prominent CA color I see) or purple. You can use your processing software to desaturate these colors, and probably darken them somewhat to match the surrounding bark/leaves/feathers in tone as well... I've had very good luck with this sort of CA removal, though if I have a subject with colors matching the undesired one (ie. PF present, but also purple flowers), the work becomes much harder.

Here's #2 with a quick and dirty CA removal (if it bothers you that I edited and reposted the shot, please let me know and I'll take it right down)...

Corros · 03-17-2009, 11:48 PM

Great to see birds like these. The picture is beautiful. Maybe you can do en denoise on the picture except the Owl.

Damn Brit · 03-18-2009, 12:17 AM

Well captured Ray, I bet you were happy about it.

Without disparaging Josh's PP work, I think it would be better to clone out that patch of sky completely. It should be easy for the first two and three is manageable, the leaves should be easy to use to fill in.

gawan · 03-18-2009, 10:06 AM

Good captures Ray!

sawtooth235 · 03-19-2009, 06:15 PM

Originally posted by heliphoto

Nice Ray! How lucky they owl just flew in when you needed a subject. Focus looks a touch sharper to me in #2 and #3, so I prefer those two...

The only notable deficiency is the chromatic aberration and purple fringing visible, which is of course common when shooting leaves and branches against the bright sky (especially with some older lenses). Luckily, neither the subject nor the background contain cyan (the prominent CA color I see) or purple. You can use your processing software to desaturate these colors, and probably darken them somewhat to match the surrounding bark/leaves/feathers in tone as well... I've had very good luck with this sort of CA removal, though if I have a subject with colors matching the undesired one (ie. PF present, but also purple flowers), the work becomes much harder.

Here's #2 with a quick and dirty CA removal (if it bothers you that I edited and reposted the shot, please let me know and I'll take it right down)...

Josh,

That looks really good. I don't object to your effort at all, in fact I appreciate that you would take the time to help me learn.

Originally posted by Corros

Great to see birds like these. The picture is beautiful. Maybe you can do en denoise on the picture except the Owl.

Corros,

That is a very good idea. I tried to do a noise reduction of the entire image, but the owl got very soft.

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Well captured Ray, I bet you were happy about it.

Without disparaging Josh's PP work, I think it would be better to clone out that patch of sky completely. It should be easy for the first two and three is manageable, the leaves should be easy to use to fill in.

Gary,

I like it, that way I can use skills that I have already mastered to do a fast improvement. (I'll definitely try the other suggestions when I get some free time. I do want to learn more about editing, but getting free time is so difficult in this economy.)

Originally posted by gawan

Good captures Ray!

Georg,

Thank you very much.

Ray

**dadipentak** · 03-19-2009, 07:03 PM

I really like the foreground bokeh--it's a wonderful effect. That and the subject (owls are really special!) make any minor IQ issues pretty much irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

Jimbo · 03-19-2009, 08:33 PM

Nice capture Ray. I haven't took a picture of a Owl yet. JIM

sawtooth235 · 03-19-2009, 08:42 PM

Originally posted by dadipentak

I really like the foreground bokeh--it's a wonderful effect. That and the subject (owls are really special!) make any minor IQ issues pretty much irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

I am very fortunate that my neighborhood has several Barred Owls that are always buzzing about and calling. My next goal is to get one of them in-flight in a image.

Originally posted by Jimbo

Nice capture Ray. I haven't took a picture of a Owl yet. JIM

Jim,

I hadn't ever gotten one myself until I move to this neighborhood in Northeastern Florida. If I get the in-flight image that I trying for, you can bet that I'll be posting that one.

Ray

Jimbo · 03-19-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

If I get the in-flight image that I trying for, you can bet that I'll be posting that one.

Ray

Good luck Ray and I want to see that one too! JIM

Jewelltrail · 03-19-2009, 09:16 PM

Thanks for sharing these cool shots Ray!

sawtooth235 · 03-20-2009, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by Jimbo

Good luck Ray and I want to see that one too! JIM

Jim,

Don't hold your breath, it may be a while the way I'm going, LOL.

Originally posted by Jewelltrail

Thanks for sharing these cool shots Ray!

Jewelltrail,

Thanks for the nice compliment. It was my pleasure to share.

Ray

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03-17-2009, 08:40 AM	#2
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539	Nice Ray! How lucky they owl just flew in when you needed a subject. Focus looks a touch sharper to me in #2 and #3, so I prefer those two... The only notable deficiency is the chromatic aberration and purple fringing visible, which is of course common when shooting leaves and branches against the bright sky (especially with some older lenses). Luckily, neither the subject nor the background contain cyan (the prominent CA color I see) or purple. You can use your processing software to desaturate these colors, and probably darken them somewhat to match the surrounding bark/leaves/feathers in tone as well... I've had very good luck with this sort of CA removal, though if I have a subject with colors matching the undesired one (ie. PF present, but also purple flowers), the work becomes much harder. Here's #2 with a quick and dirty CA removal (if it bothers you that I edited and reposted the shot, please let me know and I'll take it right down)...

03-17-2009, 11:48 PM	#3
Corros Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gouda, Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 165	Great to see birds like these. The picture is beautiful. Maybe you can do en denoise on the picture except the Owl.

03-18-2009, 12:17 AM	#4
Damn Brit Guest	Well captured Ray, I bet you were happy about it. Without disparaging Josh's PP work, I think it would be better to clone out that patch of sky completely. It should be easy for the first two and three is manageable, the leaves should be easy to use to fill in.

03-18-2009, 10:06 AM	#5
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	Good captures Ray!

03-19-2009, 06:15 PM	#6
sawtooth235 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orange Park, Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 886 Original Poster	Originally posted by heliphoto Nice Ray! How lucky they owl just flew in when you needed a subject. Focus looks a touch sharper to me in #2 and #3, so I prefer those two... The only notable deficiency is the chromatic aberration and purple fringing visible, which is of course common when shooting leaves and branches against the bright sky (especially with some older lenses). Luckily, neither the subject nor the background contain cyan (the prominent CA color I see) or purple. You can use your processing software to desaturate these colors, and probably darken them somewhat to match the surrounding bark/leaves/feathers in tone as well... I've had very good luck with this sort of CA removal, though if I have a subject with colors matching the undesired one (ie. PF present, but also purple flowers), the work becomes much harder. Here's #2 with a quick and dirty CA removal (if it bothers you that I edited and reposted the shot, please let me know and I'll take it right down)... Josh, That looks really good. I don't object to your effort at all, in fact I appreciate that you would take the time to help me learn. Originally posted by Corros Great to see birds like these. The picture is beautiful. Maybe you can do en denoise on the picture except the Owl. Corros, That is a very good idea. I tried to do a noise reduction of the entire image, but the owl got very soft. Originally posted by Damn Brit Well captured Ray, I bet you were happy about it. Without disparaging Josh's PP work, I think it would be better to clone out that patch of sky completely. It should be easy for the first two and three is manageable, the leaves should be easy to use to fill in. Gary, I like it, that way I can use skills that I have already mastered to do a fast improvement. (I'll definitely try the other suggestions when I get some free time. I do want to learn more about editing, but getting free time is so difficult in this economy.) Originally posted by gawan Good captures Ray! Georg, Thank you very much. Ray

03-19-2009, 07:03 PM	#7
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	I really like the foreground bokeh--it's a wonderful effect. That and the subject (owls are really special!) make any minor IQ issues pretty much irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

03-19-2009, 08:33 PM	#8
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	Nice capture Ray. I haven't took a picture of a Owl yet. JIM

03-19-2009, 08:42 PM	#9
sawtooth235 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orange Park, Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 886 Original Poster	Originally posted by dadipentak I really like the foreground bokeh--it's a wonderful effect. That and the subject (owls are really special!) make any minor IQ issues pretty much irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. I am very fortunate that my neighborhood has several Barred Owls that are always buzzing about and calling. My next goal is to get one of them in-flight in a image. Originally posted by Jimbo Nice capture Ray. I haven't took a picture of a Owl yet. JIM Jim, I hadn't ever gotten one myself until I move to this neighborhood in Northeastern Florida. If I get the in-flight image that I trying for, you can bet that I'll be posting that one. Ray

03-19-2009, 08:44 PM	#10
Jimbo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maple Ridge BC Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,368	Quote: If I get the in-flight image that I trying for, you can bet that I'll be posting that one. Ray Good luck Ray and I want to see that one too! JIM

03-19-2009, 09:16 PM	#11
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Thanks for sharing these cool shots Ray!

03-20-2009, 06:30 PM	#12
sawtooth235 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orange Park, Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 886 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jimbo Good luck Ray and I want to see that one too! JIM Jim, Don't hold your breath, it may be a while the way I'm going, LOL. Originally posted by Jewelltrail Thanks for sharing these cool shots Ray! Jewelltrail, Thanks for the nice compliment. It was my pleasure to share. Ray