Animal Photography with the Canon SX60HS (1 Viewer)

CalvinFold · Feb 10, 2016

Posted three new images to my gallery. These mostly show some new techniques, or extreme examples of existing ones, that I use:

Northern Pintail (female): The exposure and balance was good on this one, so mostly just my usual Camera RAW filter pass to add +25 Clarity. Wanted to post it zoomed-in (larger) so used Topaz DeNoise, which to my awe did a good job of toning-down the noise on the water without ruining the detail on the duck. That Photoshop plugin is going to get a more regular place in my routine going forward. :t:
Anna's Hummingbird: An example of "rescuing" a silhouetted, backlit photo into a passable photo. This uses Smart Objects and the Camera RAW filter in Photoshop (replacing my previous technique of using Camera RAW via DNG files). As always, the source file is a JPEG with low compression and low noise reduction.
Another Anna's Hummingbird: This time I tried to use my new flash (Canon Speedlite 430EX II), and novice that I am, just over-flashed in a big way. Managed to make it passable with the same technique: Camera RAW filter. You should have seen the leaves, which were almost completely blown-out...eeeew. NOTE to self: since the flash has a cycle-time delay anyway (so can't burst shoot), really should use RAW for flash photography.

Granted, could get better photos from a DSLR with less post-processing, but I have more time than money, so if I can squeeze a photo via other methods and tools, so be it.

CalvinFold · Feb 17, 2016

Sorry for all the posts lately, just showing what the camera can do under different circumstances.

More examples of a Red-Tailed Hawk at 60m:

Using 1.6x digital teledapter (not digital zoom)
Using 2.0x digital teledapter (not digital zoom)

I don't usually use the teledapter, not liking the sensor noise being so rough. But I was experimenting with extremes: a couple hours before sundown and using the teledapter for more reach. From the camera, the lighting produced a weird contrasty-yet-flat effect due to light being defused through thin clouds.

Turns out using two Photoshop filters I recently purchased made all the difference:

Topaz Detail: combines the Clarity (Adobe Camera RAW) and Smart Sharpen steps and adds color balancing. Talk about night-n-day from what came off the camera.
Topaz DeNoise: I set the camera for minimum Noise Reduction and let this filter do it, with much better results. The trick seems to be resizing the image to certain specific sizes so the noise isn't distorted, then using DeNoise on the final reduced image.

There is some halo'ing from the contrast between the hawk and the sky. I checked the original off the camera and it's from that, not effects of the plugins. Not that I don't need to explore the nuances of using the Detail plugin to minimize artifacts a bit more. But I'm less picky when "rescuing" photos or shooting with the teledapter.

I have to admit I was impressed that this much detail was available in the image data from a mere JPEG at this range in so-so lighting.

kawwauser · Feb 22, 2016

3 from me,the starling was the full 247mm with the 1.6 switched on

CalvinFold · Feb 22, 2016

#3 is lovely, a Night-Heron? Was that with flash or with just some very unique natural lighting?

#1 is a beauty too. Love that speckled pattern.

kawwauser · Feb 22, 2016

hi kevin,its just a European grey heron,it was taken at dinner time today ,no flash used,174mm used as it was in the middle of a pond

CalvinFold · Apr 5, 2016

We saw our first Starling locally, but I didn't get as good a photo as yours, and ours are less speckled.

However, I have been practicing a bit more with limited use of flash and more practice with the Topaz plugins for Photoshop. My girlfriend, who actually has a degree in film photography, says this last batch is alot better:

The Barn Swallow was shot with the flash (-1 Flash Compensation, ISO 200). Primarily because the sun was low and diffuse. The coot and hummingbird do not use flash.

I did take flash photos of the hummingbird (they usually come-out better), but this trip I uncomfortably over-exposed them, and/or they looked like flash photos, which bothered me aesthetically. So those didn't get used in my gallery; another learning exercise.

I'm using the Topaz filters (Clarity and Detail primarily) instead of Smart Sharpen in Photoshop as part of my post processing now. Am throwing in DeNoise when at ISO 400 or above, finding I don't need it at Bird Forum photo sizes at ISO 200 or below. Also shooting more RAW (though all of the above are JPEGs from the camera); generally I try to use RAW when shooting at a distance and/or with the flash.

kawwauser · May 10, 2016

was out yesterday in hot weather,spent time in different locations including a beach,my camera is now making a noise when I use the zoom ,the pics are ok ,hopefully its just a temp thing

Chris.S · May 16, 2016

Some photos in the last week or so since getting my SX60, i've used the SX50 for a few years and decided to get the 60 as it was fairly cheap 2nd hand.

Have to say i'm not seeing a huge difference really.

Need to try some video next.

Chris.S · May 16, 2016

A couple more.

Cheers
Chris.

birdboybowley · May 26, 2016

kawwauser said:
was out yesterday in hot weather,spent time in different locations including a beach,my camera is now making a noise when I use the zoom ,the pics are ok ,hopefully its just a temp thing

Hey K, back in December mine was making a hideous noise as I zoomed in and out...like a ratchet! It made no difference to picture quality but was obviously audible on the video but now it seems to've sorted itself out and is as quiet and smooth as it used to be

kawwauser · May 27, 2016

cheers, I never thought abut the noise on video,i have been spending a lot of time on the beach with the family's dogs im sure this is what has caused the problem

birdboybowley · May 27, 2016

Yeah I think mine got sand in it from the desert in Dubai and has just taken this long to be ground down to nowt!

Cute pooches!

kawwauser · May 30, 2016

the noise is showing up on the videos but the noise is getting less,a few pics from today

CalvinFold · May 31, 2016

Note to self: SX60 does not go down to the beach with me. :eek!:

Or maybe get one of those "camera raincoats" to keep the elements away? |

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birdboybowley · Jun 5, 2016

Hey all, a link below to my recent trip to Japan - all pics taken with the trusty SX60. Pleased with how it behaved, especially with the owl shots at night.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=325403

CalvinFold · Jun 9, 2016

Might be common to others, but I'd never seen this lovely species before and got a great photo with the SX60 and some post-processing adjustments: Brewer's Blackbird.

kawwauser · Jun 14, 2016

2 pics showing the difference a background can make,both are of the same bird but at different angles,the first has green crops in the background adding some light and colour the second was taken against the dull sky

kawwauser · Jun 14, 2016

a few more from yesterday

birdboybowley · Jun 14, 2016

Nice pics K

kawwauser · Jun 21, 2016

heron feeding on the far side of a pond in arbroath

Animal Photography with the Canon SX60HS (1 Viewer)

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