Astroscope + DSLR = Gallery! (2 Viewers)

[DanC.Licks]

I see what you are getting at with the "painted" quality of the image. That is what I like about this one:

It is a case where I have tried to turn a weakness in a shot into a strength, like you have done here. But I do have a question or two:
Is there really so much noise with the K-5 at ISO 1000? My Kingfisher shot was at 800, and the K-5 kills the E-30 at higher ISO. It looks to me like there is a hint of camera movement, which is to be expected at 1/60. Did you have the in-body anti shake on? How well does it work on the K-5? I feel in a case like this it would be better to push the ISO even a little higher, and go easier on the denoising. There are a number of ways to blur or denoise the background, where noise becomes a distraction, like using layers in PS or using a selective blurring tool, but keeping the detail in the subject. All a question of what you want to do and what you have to work with.
By the way, I don't see where you hid the sunflower seed.

 

[Tord]

ISO 1000, 1/60 sec. Had to give it quite a large amount of noise reduction, but the "smear" can give it a painted feeling sometimes which is quite nice.

Beautiful. As you write it reminds of an oil painting, I like it.

 

[Oskar Moilanen]

You are certainly correct that I should push the ISO a bit higher, but I have such a hard time doing it. My limit before would be 800 and I've just now got around to a 1000, trying to keep noise to a minimum works against me sometimes. The K-5 is excellent at handling higher ISO, but I'm such a god damn pixel peeper in the post-processing and always wanting a totally smooth background. |=)| As for the photoshop techniques, I'm going to have to learn that first.
I believe the IS was on, haven't tested without in a while but might have to do with the newly acquired tripod head. I think our two pictures here goes to show that the birds posture and the setting comes first for a good photo, that last bit of tack sharp focus comes second (but of course we want it).

Thank you Tord!

On a side note: No sunflower seed hidden, just waited for it fly to a branch after gathering the seeds at the feeder. |:d|

 

[DanC.Licks]

"just waited for it fly to a branch after gathering the seeds at the feeder."

You aren't the first to do that either!

PP-ing is addictive and annoying at the same time.

We put up with grain in film days, but we hate noise. It doesn't fit in to our idea that we should get perfect results from perfect cameras. Don't get me wrong. I put in a lot of effort in my days as a pro to reduce grain as much as possible with special developers and developing techniques. But it was a fact of life and as you said, the content of the picture was more important than a bit of grain. Sometimes I will even add "grain" to a picture if it is not as detailed enough, to give it a little texture, especially in B+W. Again, a way of turning a weakness into a strength.

 

[Tord]

This summer I was very lucky to catch two Lesser Spotted Eagles ringed with plastic rings ( designed to read from distance). One of them- ringed in 2010, other in 2009. Both in Poland. Next year I'll start studying eagles legs in April. Expecting more readings.

Pentax K5, SW 80ED handheld, distance approx. 100 m

This is impressive. I am curious how you manage to operate the SW80 handheld
- Right hand operating camera
- Left hand providing support to tube, somewhere in the middle I suppose?
- Third hand operating the focuser?

Or are you using some support?

/Tord

 

[DanC.Licks]

Tord,
I think he might be Arnold Schwarzenegger's long lost brother

Have a look at post #413. He explains how he does it there.

 

[Oskar Moilanen]

Autumn colours.

 

[DanC.Licks]

First one is really nice, if a tiny bit dark. First class!

 

[Tord]

Autumn colours.

The first one is really good, color, behavior/posture and sharpness. To add on what Dan writes, toning up the shadows would make it a fabulous one.

 

[Oskar Moilanen]

Thank you guys! It felt as a good shot the second I got it, probably one to remember. Looking at it after your recommendations it did feel slightly dark, I thought the same and decided to give it a bit more exposure.

 

[DanC.Licks]

I think that is better. I would suggest also cropping a bit off the top, about at the upper middle of the orange blotch. Not much going on in the top part of the picture. That would draw your eye more toward the bird and give the berries at the bottom more weight.
That is really a good shot and worth working on.

 

[Tord]

Sea Eagle

Some good preparations, early morning start, careful hiding and patient waiting allowed me to spot three Sea Eagles this morning. Spooted two adults at extreme photo range (got some record shots not worth posting) and this sub-adult at estimated 200 meters distance, finishing off what looks to be the wing of some quite large bird (goose or duck). This is as close as is possible to come at this location while still being hidden in the vegetation.

Not the best of light unfortunately, windy and cloudy, but the results are not too bad I think.

SW80 + EC14
E620 @ISO 400, 1/320 s

Thanks for looking
Tord

 

[Tord]

Thank you guys! It felt as a good shot the second I got it, probably one to remember. Looking at it after your recommendations it did feel slightly dark, I thought the same and decided to give it a bit more exposure.

Did you shoot in RAW? Have you tried applying some HDR processing to lift the shadows?

 

[Oskar Moilanen]

I think that is better. I would suggest also cropping a bit off the top, about at the upper middle of the orange blotch. Not much going on in the top part of the picture. That would draw your eye more toward the bird and give the berries at the bottom more weight.
That is really a good shot and worth working on.

Thank you for so much constructive criticism. I will probably crop the top of the picture, but just enough to take out the "bad berries". Don't want to decenter the bird too much.

@Tord.
Yes I do shoot in RAW. As for HDR processing, I have got no experience dealing with that yet. I understand how it works but never worked with it, I'm quite new to photography.

Do you record any video of the eagles?

 

[Tord]

No I did not take any video. It was just too windy and I already had issues taking still pictures, I suppose video would have been just too shaky.

 

[Tord]

As for HDR processing, I have got no experience dealing with that yet. I understand how it works but never worked with it, I'm quite new to photography.

What SW are you using to develop the RAW files?

 

[roztoczol]

Yesterday was European Day of Birds, unfortunately weather was very bad- cloudy and raining without any break. But as dedicated birder I had long walk around large fishing ponds. Pentax K-5 is well sealed but SW 80 ED not, so I kept during walk camera higher and optical tube lower to prevent water from leaking into mirrorbox. All was OK till lenses became fogged.
One of kingfishers we met.
ISO=1000, 1/500 slightly cropped and denoised in NeatImage, on tripod.

 

[Tord]

One of kingfishers we met.
ISO=1000, 1/500 slightly cropped and denoised in NeatImage, on tripod.

Beautiful, excellent result in spite of poor light.
/Tord

 

[DanC.Licks]

Nice. Love those Kingfishers! Can you post a detail without resizing and without denoising so I can see what kind of results you are getting with the K-5 at ISO 1000? That would be great.

 

[Paul Corfield]

All was OK till lenses became fogged.

I keep the main lens cell just hand tightened so it's easy to unscrew and wipe the rear glass with a cleaning cloth when it gets fogged up.

Nice Kingfisher btw.

Paul.