Mother and kids C&C

AnimalRights

Being a while since my last C&C as I wanted to improve on myself, the last week I've tried to learn the unsharpen mask feature that comes with the Canon Zoombrowser ex.
I tend to go as easy on it as possible as it seems quite "strong"



Mother brings up the rearguard.



Nicely bunched.



Ducklings swim into the shade.

Taken this morning in Phoenix Park with a Canon 450D 70-200L f4 non IS (handheld shots)

Ricky91t

These pics ark kinda over exposed think thats cos you were shooting on water!I like #1 as the mother duck is sharp and clear
#2 is nice and sharp on the mother but the ducklings dont look to good and look abit dark but that cos of the sunlight and shade.
If i were you id shoot again get lower down to get a clear background wait till they are in the sun or shade not between and maybe shoot raw to try and correct some of the over exposed parts

AnimalRights

I never thought of it that way, I looked at these pics and compared to diff pics I took yesterday not on water and yes I felt there was something not quite right.
Raw I've had very limited experience but I will def try that some more, looking at them I can see how the Mothers head is over exposed.
I'm happy with the sharpness in general as that has come on in leaps and bounds, handheld too were todays pics.
Ta for help and suggestions and glad I upped 'em for C n C as I wouldn't have sussed out the problem.

#2 Was Sun and Shade, I'm not a purist when it comes to "the correct way" for Sun/Shade/composition etc
Not mad on PP and def not Photoshop.
I try to get pics as normal and natural as possible.

AlanMooneyPhoto

Hi AnimalRights,
I like No.2 the best, it just seems better organised with the ducks all heading into the center of the picture, for me though I think the pictures have been overdone with the unsharp mark, it looks fine on the ducks but it seems to have an unnatural effect on the water.
Maybe apply the unsharp mask to just the ducks using a layer mask would give a nicer result?
Good work though, nice shots all round.
Alan

AnimalRights

Hi Alan, ta for input.
I only started using unsharpen mask last week so don't really understand it to well....
Not sure or know about this Layer mask?
My unsharpen window contains
Amount
Radius
Threshold

Borderfox

I like number two best, bit of mixed light probably giving the camera some trouble. As said above try to make your viewpoint eye level with the subject.

AlanMooneyPhoto

Hi Animal,
I'm not sure what software you are using, but in CS2/3
Duplicate background layer
apply unsharp mask
apply a black layer mask(by pressing alt when pressing layer mask icon on layers panel)
set paintrush foreground color to white and paint over the ducks, this will allow the unsharpened layer to shine through just on the bits you paint over.
good thing is, if you go outside the lines or cover a bit you didnt mean to, change the foreground colour to black and paint over that bit again.
in the end you can adjust the intensity with the layer opacity feature.
if this isnt clear let me know, i have a written tutorial for it here somewhere.
best of luck,
Alan

AnimalRights

I am using Canon Zoombrowser EX, it came on a disc with the 450D, must check all the apps that was on disc.

I shall try and experiment later.

Thanks again.

Ricky91t

Lightroom might help with the exposure
Mybe if you stalk them off a while they might come onto land

Ricky91t

Is they did come onto land you'd get some excellent shot's!These two were chick's a few duck we had they got injured by the other mother and had to stay in my room for a while as the mother rejected them!This was when we took them out!if you could get low down either when they're on land of in water you'd get some top class shots!

AnimalRights

Very nice, Ducks do seem to be a contented lot!