Gull's - Still learning

[Dick on Aruba]

A couple of times I did not capture what my eyes saw and still I was
satisfied with the results. In this case it was the same thing; I saw a
gull, photographed it, wend home and was happy with the results.

[Click image to enlarge]

Capture #1
Note that this was my best possible exposure for not blowing the whites
and not darken the black too much…but that was not what my naked eye
saw… (Picture from a couple of weeks ago and still blown)

http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/74669582-M.jpg (http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/74669582-O.jpg)
(http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/74669582-M.jpg)

Capture #2
…and because the last couple of weeks I’m very into getting the exposure
right, I wend back to re-capture this bird but with exposure much closer to
reality. (pictures from today)

http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919166-M.jpg (http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919166-O.jpg)
(http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919166-M.jpg)

Capture #3
http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919338-M.jpg (http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919338-O.jpg)
(http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919338-M.jpg)

I (you too?) clearly notice the difference. The grey equals grey, the white
equals white.
With an “if you can do it, I can do it” mentality I shot those pictures. I’m
very happy that I see progress in the part of exposure.

Capture #4
Understanding the histogram of your picture results in a lot of keepers
(exposure wise) and put time into learning to manipulate the curves in
Nikon Capture is time well spend.

http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919223-M.jpg (http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919223-O.jpg)
(http://arubaphoto.smugmug.com/photos/78919223-M.jpg)

Dick.

[Harryb]

Good post Dick. I can definitely see the difference. Si what did you do differently?

[Dick on Aruba]

Good post Dick. I can definitely see the difference. Si what did you do differently?

Thanks Harry.

Notice that I play some with the aperture which make often a huge differents in my histogram and / or exposure-lock on different strong contrast points of the subject. In case of the last picture, my exposure-lock was on the legs which contrasted strongly again the background. The tail in capture 2 and 3.

Seeing the overal picture, I try to evaluate the best spot to meter on. If still blown or underexposted than the EV dial will be used. NC curving helps me with fixing little inaccurate evaluations.

Dick.

[Brooks P]

Hi Dick, I wasn't too fond of the first picture, too black, too white, if it were mine I'd definitely keep it too, but everytime I looked at it I'd know I good do better. But the next three, wow what an improvement.

I like how you have a link to a larger picture, how did you get the link imbedded in the picture? I know how to do it with a word, but not with a picture.

[Dick on Aruba]

Hi Dick, I wasn't too fond of the first picture, too black, too white, if it were mine I'd definitely keep it too, but everytime I looked at it I'd know I good do better. But the next three, wow what an improvement.

I like how you have a link to a larger picture, how did you get the link imbedded in the picture? I know how to do it with a word, but not with a picture.

Thanks Brooks.

It's actually very simple.
With a word: You highlight the word, press the "Insert link" icon and enter the link.
With a picture: You click the pic ones to select it, press the "Insert link" icon and enter the link.

It's great to redirect to a bigger format, a gallery or to the EXIF info.

Dick.