My first

[largelylivin]

My first photo of a Cooper's Hawk (right?) and my first roosting hawk. Sigma 50-550, 1/1500, f6.7, ISO 400, on a monopod.

Are my alterations subtle enough and are they an improvement?

Original then altered. XL size: http://smile-123.smugmug.com/gallery/3301938#249736780-XL-LB

http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/249736661-M.jpg http://smile-123.smugmug.com/photos/249736780-M.jpg

[Harryb]

Good capture and your post work is an improvement. How are you liking the Pentax system?

[largelylivin]

I chose the K10D over the Canon because of the weather proofing (I shoot mostly from a boat). Love the Pentax lenses that I have. The bigma is fine if you have enough light but I don't think it matches up with my autofocus all that well: hard to say since I don't have experience with anything similar.

For me, the Pentax has great ergonomics, except for the placement of the autofocus/single/continuous/manual selector. The RAW+JPEG featured turned out to be a must in my apps because I can upload JPEGS for previews and only process the Raw for orders. I used it over saltwater and in the rain for about 8 months. Never a problem and the only sign of wear is some salty deposits on the seals around the battery compartment and electronic connections cover. It was clearly a best buy at $900 last January and I can't wait to get a K20D. Still, I drool over Canon's selection of big fast lenses and there are plenty of used ones out there.

This is my first DLSR and I've been disappointed with the amount of noise in the dark areas and anything underexposed. In that respect film is much more forgiving. Not sure if that's a Pentax issue or just CCDs in general. Its ISO 1600 must be used carefully to get 'acceptable' results.

[Harryb]

I chose the K10D over the Canon because of the weather proofing (I shoot mostly from a boat). Love the Pentax lenses that I have. The bigma is fine if you have enough light but I don't think it matches up with my autofocus all that well: hard to say since I don't have experience with anything similar.

For me, the Pentax has great ergonomics, except for the placement of the autofocus/single/continuous/manual selector. The RAW+JPEG featured turned out to be a must in my apps because I can upload JPEGS for previews and only process the Raw for orders. I used it over saltwater and in the rain for about 8 months. Never a problem and the only sign of wear is some salty deposits on the seals around the battery compartment and electronic connections cover. It was clearly a best buy at $900 last January and I can't wait to get a K20D. Still, I drool over Canon's selection of big fast lenses and there are plenty of used ones out there.

This is my first DLSR and I've been disappointed with the amount of noise in the dark areas and anything underexposed. In that respect film is much more forgiving. Not sure if that's a Pentax issue or just CCDs in general. Its ISO 1600 must be used carefully to get 'acceptable' results.

If you're getting acceptable results at ISO 1600 you're doing OK. Usually noise in the darker, shadow areas is not a big deal just apply NR to those sections only. Since you probably won't have much detail in those areas you won't be losing much by using NR.

[dbaker1221]

good capture

[nightowlphotography]

Great photo, and I think your post work is well done. It does improve it a bit.