[Erictator]

Xposted from K-1 thread:

Last of the hawk set.


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/200 iso2000

I got a little closer, unfortunately it puts me looking a bit more of an upward angle than I'd like. Still, I'm not complaining.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/200 iso1000


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/200 iso640

This was the last look he gave me before he bolted. I haven't seen him in a few days now, but I "think" I heard his high pitch call this morning.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/400 iso1250

[pichaser]

What a beautiful series you have made . TFS

[NomNamNom]

Xposted from K-1 thread:

Last of the hawk set.


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/200 iso2000

I got a little closer, unfortunately it puts me looking a bit more of an upward angle than I'd like. Still, I'm not complaining.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/200 iso1000


HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/200 iso640

This was the last look he gave me before he bolted. I haven't seen him in a few days now, but I "think" I heard his high pitch call this morning.

HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW ƒ/7.1 450.0 mm 1/400 iso1250

Thanks for the series and for sharing your process!

[termy]

Heavily cropped image.
This butterfly was quite cooperative.

Did not have any other lens with me so, just snap away using the 150-450 and crop thereafter.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

File Date

 

[RobG]

Meerkat Sentry by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

---------- Post added 17-11-19 at 10:39 PM ----------


I've got bed-head? by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

[TroutHunterJohn]

Thanks Rob! I didn't HAVE to do a lot of noise reduction, but I did some anyway.

They way I do it is a bit of a cheat so I don't loose detail in the subject, since noise doesn't really show as much in a busy detailed subject as much as in the bokeh.
I am still using an old copy of Photoshop CC15... Rather than applying detail killing noise reduction to the whole image in ACR, I leave as much detail as I can in the converted JPG, then edit the JPG the rest of the way in Photoshop.
I start by doing a magnetic lasso around the subject, which is easy when you are using a shallow DOF and the subject already pops. Then go to Select, Modify, Expand (I do 5 pixels) then I Invert the selection. Then, I'll go back to Select, Modify, Feather (I do 3 pixels) then, I do the Noise reduction tool in a very minimal setting, and try to leave just enough noise to look natural, kinda like film grain, because that makes me happy and doesn't look like "plastic".

That may sound like a lot of work to some people, but once you get comfortable, it goes super fast and is just a few clicks as part of the workflow.

In all honesty, I think I'm probably the only one who see's it because the grain is only visible at pixel peeping levels, not at posted sizes, but it makes me feel better to do it in case I print them some day. ( do this before I re-size, so my larger files are good to print)
Eric


Thanks redpit! A giant tele zoom just shouldn't have nice bokeh like that... doesn't seem right, does it? Heh. Gotta love Pentax lens design. Quirky, in the right kinda way.
Eric



Thanks John! See my comment above for details on post processing for noise. Other than what I described above for noise, I also do a quick tweak to levels to get the contrast where I want it (I use levels instead of the brightness/contrast sliders, since I feel levels gives more control) and that's about it. I guess you could say I do pre-process the RAW's in ACR, but I usually just highlight the whole batch if shot in the same lighting, and do my bumps there. Since I shoot to expose for highlights with an Exposure Compensation of -.7, I usually have to bring the exposure and shadows up a tad, then knock down the highlights slider to keep them from going where I don't want.

These particular shots were done with fill flash, all except the first 3 pics posted. I was wondering if people noticed, heh.

Thanks again to all who commented,
Eric

I still can't get over how amazing these images are. Very 3-dimensional.

I sounds like quite a process, Eric. Is there a way I can emulate your workflow using Lightroom?

[redpit]

Xposted from K-1 thread:

Last of the hawk set.

Superb as the previous ones! As you said I also find the bokeh of this zoom lens wonderful in the 90% of the situations! I can't understand people who blame the DFA 150-450 for nervous bokeh... Maybe they forget that "creamy" bokeh from other zooms come at a price of soft, pale and glowing subjects. I think the DFA is another example of Pentax lens excellence.

[Erictator]

I still can't get over how amazing these images are. Very 3-dimensional.

I sounds like quite a process, Eric. Is there a way I can emulate your workflow using Lightroom?

Hi John, Thanks! I wish I could take the credit, but the camera and lens should get most of the accolades. Getting that 3-D pop is usually just finding a lenses sweet spot, then remembering to exploit those advantages when you use it. Part of that is using your feet and getting yourself into the most advantageous position with regards to the light source, getting the Fstop in that sweet spot, make sure you have enough shutter speed that you can handle and be sharp, then let the ISO roam where it needs to go, because the K-1 is an awesome ISO monster if you don't have to push the shadows or exposure too hard in post.

I have to apologize, because I don't know Lightroom at all... I can't imagine that being an Adobe product that the steps and tools would be all that different than what I described in PS, since I only use the most basic functions, not even working in layers to do what I do 99.9% of the time. And the good news is that PS remembers your settings you used last if you save it as a custom choice, like "Erics Noise Reduction for heavy noise" and "Erics noise reduction for medium noise" or whatever, and you don't have to even sit there moving sliders around. Same thing for a lot of other area's in photoshop, like B&W conversions... I have a few I've saved that I like. Etc etc. Find a workflow that works for you without being too cumbersome, and you will expand on it over time. I really don't spend much time in post anymore because I have a workflow and stick to it.

Eric

[Erictator]

Superb as the previous ones! As you said I also find the bokeh of this zoom lens wonderful in the 90% of the situations! I can't understand people who blame the DFA 150-450 for nervous bokeh... Maybe they forget that "creamy" bokeh from other zooms come at a price of soft, pale and glowing subjects. I think the DFA is another example of Pentax lens excellence.

Thanks so much, and you are right, people say a lot of things like that. I've seen the same thing said about my DA*300 bokeh, but I find it very pleasing. It is, as you say, just very sharp, so a sharp lens can have "sharp bokeh" at times, especially of you run the ISO up and it's contrasty lighting, you just have to plan around it. But make no mistake, the DA*300mm can rival my 77mm LTD for bokeh.
Eric

[RobG]

Can you tell why it's called a Satin Flycatcher?


Satin Flycatcher by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

[BirdDude007]

Aviation Nation at Nelis AFB last week....I have over 2000 pics but most of them are from this lens.....this pic here is taken on a K3 at 360mm and some good cropping in LR, had some serious focusing issues that day, but then again I am still very new to this lens...and I have some beautiful shots I walked away with...

[BirdDude007]

this one was shot at 290mm with some cropping, but one of my favorites...

[BirdDude007]

fully racked out at 450mm/ little cropping...

[simple1]

Xposted from K-1 thread:

Last of the hawk set.

Incredible series! Thanks for sharing.

[termy]

this one was shot at 290mm with some cropping, but one of my favorites...Attachment 475582

Nicely captured!