lesson number two

[Woody]

Hi All,

I got out with the digiscoping kit on Sunday to have a second learning session. The light wasn't great but equally, not too bad.

I managed to get some pretty good shots of avocets, heron, and redshank, but I think the best were of the Yellow Wagtail. I have uploaded the best one into the digiscoped birds gallery - Yellow Wagtail (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10543)

I'd appreciate any feedback from the experts here.


I have done some work in photoshop to clear up purple fringing etc. and one thing I am noticing is that most of my shots seem to lack contrast. Is this a common feature of digiscoping or am I doing something fundamentally wrong?

The camera was set to the macro setting BTW

Thanks in advance
Woody

[robinm]

I'm no expert but I think the shot of the yellow wagtail is excellent. Composition is good and I don't see much wrong with the contrast.

If the contrast is not right on my photos I play around with the levels (CTRL-L in Photoshop). Andy Bright's website gives some good advice on how to use that feature.

[Woody]

Thanks Robin, I had to adjust the levels a fair bit to get the pic looking as it does, all things are possible with photoshop! :) what I was wondering was is there a way to avoid/correct it when taking the shot?

Woody

[IanF]

Hi Woody,

I saw the shot of the Yellow wagtail and it's very good. The contrast is a bit lacking. I have the Nikon CP4500 which has in camera saturation adjustments, but I have mine set to normal or 0. Your camera may have the same in which case check the setting or maybe increase it slightly.

[Grousemore]

Nice picture.Woody,very expressive.

I notice the bird is ringed,any theories?

[Andy Bright]

Very nice shot, Woody. I expect that some of the lack of contrast is down to the scope, I noticed it was a non-Fluorite Kowa... one of the features of the top glass is far higher contrast (which I find helps when focusing the scope via the camera's monitor)
The Yellow Wagtail doesn't look too washed -out to my eyes.

[Woody]

IanF thanks for adding the link, I'll have to try to work that one out. One of the things I did to enhance the pic was to up the saturation on the yellow but the process of upload seems to have desaturated it again. I'll look into the camera settings a bit closer for the next learning session, thanks for the tip.

Grousemore, maybe somebody caught the bird and put a ring on it?

;) Sorry I couldn't resist. Seriously though I have no idea about banding. I did try to enhance the ring to see the data but the pic's not clear enough I'm afraid. Maybe somebody else has an idea?

Andy, you mean I'm gonna have to get another scope? I'm gonna have to sell some of the children... Any offers;)

Thanks guys
Woody