Lake Kissimmee Eagles

[Second Hand Pat]

Finally got some decent eagle pictures.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/481/32390899202_7c86609419_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RmgPRm)DSC_5609-2 (https://flic.kr/p/RmgPRm) [/url]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/556/31699675574_f8d4827fff_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_5576-4 (https://flic.kr/p/Qic89A)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/408/32390902012_f195b914d2_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_5581-4 (https://flic.kr/p/RmgQFN) [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/]

[Discus-n00b]

Looks great Pat! I'll check them out more once I get off work tonight. They look quite perfect on this screen! That first one is amazing

If you want me being picky I do see a few small brush marks around them, notably in the middle image above the head and front portions of wing. Sorry, still super nice! Lol

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Matt and definitely want you to be picky. On that middle picture that artifact around the head is actually in the original image. Not sure how to get rid of that. I was trying to tint the background a bit. Perhaps I should leave it alone.
Pat

[SMB2]

OK, great flight shots, but a few questions.
How much of a crop, how much noise reduction if any and what time of day? ISO?

[rickztahone]

These are great Pat. I see the brush strokes and I was going to mention them until I saw Matt already had. Thr first would look great without that thing at the bottom.the last one is my favorite due to pose.

The detail here is amazing

[Second Hand Pat]

OK, great flight shots, but a few questions.
How much of a crop, how much noise reduction if any and what time of day? ISO?

Thanks Stan. This should answer your question. Should have reduced the ISO a bit.

ISO: 1250 Time:10:38am NR:62%
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/656/31732196893_2e103d1df2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Qm4NAZ)DSC_5609-4 (https://flic.kr/p/Qm4NAZ) [/url]

106194


ISO: 1250 Time:10:36am NR:48%
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/451/32421705891_4c291f0ef6_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_5576-5 (https://flic.kr/p/RoZHBa)

106195


ISO: 1250 Time:10:36am NR:49%
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/470/31700582944_05460e7936_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_5581-5 (https://flic.kr/p/QigLSU) [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/]

106196

[Second Hand Pat]

These are great Pat. I see the brush strokes and I was going to mention them until I saw Matt already had. Thr first would look great without that thing at the bottom.the last one is my favorite due to pose.

The detail here is amazing

Thanks Ricardo, if you look at the images in the post to Stan I removed the localized brush and did something different.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

A few more :)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/621/31734526223_cb299aeb7c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/QmgK2R)DSC_5591-2 (https://flic.kr/p/QmgK2R) [/url]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/324/32394137322_c970c60253_o.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_5579 (https://flic.kr/p/Rmyqr1) [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/]

[two utes]

I'm really impressed with these shots Pat. The detail is amazing. The first photo you posted is my favorite, but l think could be improved by cropping out the bottom black post. We saw heaps of these while doing our cruise through the inside passage of Alaska recently. Both Rita and l enjoyed spotting them on floating ice and such

[Discus-n00b]

A few more :)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/621/31734526223_cb299aeb7c_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/QmgK2R)DSC_5591-2 (https://flic.kr/p/QmgK2R)

That's your winner right there IMO. My favorite of the set. It's such a classic pose, and lots of people shoot it like this but there is a reason for it. Eagle in full flight hard to beat. The one with the feet down is my second favorite.

[Second Hand Pat]

I'm really impressed with these shots Pat. The detail is amazing. The first photo you posted is my favorite, but l think could be improved by cropping out the bottom black post. We saw heaps of these while doing our cruise through the inside passage of Alaska recently. Both Rita and l enjoyed spotting them on floating ice and such

Thanks Joe, like this :)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/656/31732196893_2e103d1df2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Qm4NAZ)DSC_5609-4 (https://flic.kr/p/Qm4NAZ)

[Second Hand Pat]

That's your winner right there IMO. My favorite of the set. It's such a classic pose, and lots of people shoot it like this but there is a reason for it. Eagle in full flight hard to beat. The one with the feet down is my second favorite.

Thanks Matt, I can almost feel this guy moving thru the air. :)
Pat

[two utes]

Thanks Joe, like this :)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/656/31732196893_2e103d1df2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Qm4NAZ)DSC_5609-4 (https://flic.kr/p/Qm4NAZ)


Spot on Pat. Thanks. This has my imagination running wild with thoughts of this eagle hunting down its prey, just before its strike :)

[brewmaster15]

.....Al.......

You are about to hate me. :)

Pat

Nah... hate is too strong. Definitely envy you though!

Just make sure you take real good field notes for me !;)

Very cool eagle shots Pat. With all the feedback you have gotten and all the things you have been trying out post processing, these may be good photos to do one of those post processing threads like Stan put together on your work flow. Including what you tried and didnt like etc. Just a thought.

Your pics just keep getting better and better. Practice does make perfect afterall. Keep it up!

Al

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Al :) I can try a post processing thread. My approach is probably going to be a bit more chaotic then Stan since I go back and forth across the panels.

Field notes?? What would you like me to keep track of? So far I have a good memory of who is where. The GBH's are nesting in Viera wetlands and Limpkin chicks were sighted (not by me) a couple weeks ago in Viera also. Reddish egrets and various ducks at Blackpoint, Purple Gallinule's are in Orlando Wetlands. White pelicans are in Blackpoint and Viera etc. Best to record species, where, date and time?
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Field notes?? What would you like me to keep track of? So far I have a good memory of who is where. The GBH's are nesting in Viera wetlands and Limpkin chicks were sighted (not by me) a couple weeks ago in Viera also. Reddish egrets and various ducks at Blackpoint, Purple Gallinule's are in Orlando Wetlands. White pelicans are in Blackpoint and Viera etc. Best to record species, where, date and time?
Pat


Hi Pat,
As you get out there more and more things start getting harder to keep track of, and as time goes by its hard to remember where you saw what and when. Often times bird and wild life photographers become field naturalists and bird watchers. Its really useful to keep a field journal of your trips. Where you went, what you saw, the weather, time of year etc.. This is really useful as the wildlife often very punctual on when they are doing one thing or another.

For instance my field notes tell me to avoid the everglades in April as the mosquitoes are brutal and the birds that over winter there have largely left and spread out more. Same notes tell me that February was an awesome time to visit... very few mosquitoes, nice weather. This I know from being there and logging lists of what I saw and also since I spoke with a ranger there at length. I can also tell you theres some cool cacti growing along one particular trail that I would love to take pictures of again and the mangrove roots there are really great for photo ops...However, the mosquitoes on that trail do not care what time of year it is....they are brutal. Theres a small point that juts out of the glades at Flamingo, where you have the best chance of seeing both alligators and crocodiles I haven't there in years but my notes will make that seem like yesterday.

al

[Second Hand Pat]

This is a great idea Al. :) You can also add a set of general notes. For example best to shot eagles early morning especially as the weather get hotter as the eagles tend to hunt early and noon the rest of the day.
Pat

[SMB2]

Pat, all of that can be in the metadata of your image and in Keywords.

As far as processing goes, on my screen the eagle looks a bit "buttery" to me. Hard to explain but the dark feathers should be crisper without over sharpening. Usually that comes from overuse of noise reduction.
Seems like you shot on a bright day (not always your friend as it is hard to keep the whites from being blown out while bringing out the dark feathers) so SS should not have been an issue, If you were shooting around 1/1600 to freeze the bird, I would have gone open on the F stop so you could have brought down the ISO.
In post don't apply NR to the whole image with the Luminance slider. Use a brush and apply max NR to the blue and a second brush for the bird. On the bird add some clarity and sharpening with ?maybe? 15% NR. See if that makes the feathers look more real and still gets rid of the noise.

Love the shots. Lucky to have those birds around. Are they on a nest now?

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat, all of that can be in the metadata of your image and in Keywords.

Good idea Stan but also see where keeping a notebook has value :)
Pat

[Discus-n00b]

Field notes do sound like a good idea. Of course mine would be like, that blue colored bird with the brown stripe looking thing. We all know I am not the best with IDs lol.

Al, avid birder yet you hate mosquitoes?? They are basically birds down here!

[brewmaster15]

Field notes do sound like a good idea. Of course mine would be like, that blue colored bird with the brown stripe looking thing. We all know I am not the best with IDs lol.

Al, avid birder yet you hate mosquitoes?? They are basically birds down here!


Matt, I'm not bothered by your normal run of the mill mosquitoes, I don't mind donating some blood but the ones in the glades are ruthless. You could easily train there in the wet months for spring in the tundra. They are relentless. Some trails you'd be crazy not to have a head net and long pants and sleeves....even if it is Florida. Bad photo shot of an old b&W
106206


Be forewarned when you go Pat!
al

[Second Hand Pat]

Al, mosquito spray does not work for you?
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Al, mosquito spray does not work for you?
Pat

Unfortunately Pat it really doesnt do much against those buggers. Not to hijack your thread but a quick story... my wife and I were hiking that trail dressed as you see. 2 bikers road by at the trail head... sprayed on their bug spray and laughed at us offering us some.We declined.. I warned them about the trail..
they rode off. 5 mins goes back and they come racing by swatting the swarm of skeeters on them as they passed... now we laughed.:)
More....
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/08/18/Floridian/Kiss_of_the_swamp_ang.shtml
Al