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Just a couple of shots I would like some feedback on. The were taken with the D300 and the 70-300 ed at 300mm & sb800 @ -1ev.

Both images are jpegs out of the camera with slight levels and crops done.

The images were taken on a dull morning and I am wondering if the dark background detracts from the shots because it looks like they were shot at night. Also are they sharp enough? I find they do not have the detail in the feathers like some of the shots I see on the forum. Is the lack of detail a limitation of the lens or my poor technique?

Your comments will be welcome.

250 @ f6.3 Click for larger image

250 @ f6.3 Click for larger image

brilliant colours!

craig, i think you're a little hot on the flash there champ. the flash is sending a pretty strong burst at your bird cos the ambient light your letting in is so small. try using 1/125s, f5.6 and bump your iso up a stop or two aswell. that'll get you at least 4 stops more ambient light which will back the flash off a little, give you much less contrast and really make a difference in the appearance.

direct hard flash without any ambient light on really vivid colours will wash away alot of the detail and shadowing in between feathers. so i think thats probably you're biggest issue here.

Thanks Roos
I was not until after I posted these last night that I thought about increasing the iso for the shots. Because the d300 is so new to me I am still thinking of poor high iso in the d70 terms. WIll give it another try next week.

Craig....... use the flash as a fill light and not as your prime light source, in this case........ now go out and reshoot

big pix wrote:Craig....... use the flash as a fill light and not as your prime light source, in this case........ now go out and reshoot

Bernie. Your wish is my command.

Two more images taken this morning. The only difference to the first two images is the iso, now 400 instaed of 200 and the flash dialed down to -2ev. These were also taken a little later in the morning but still low light (light mist).



This image was the second shot of a 2 shot burst. I have posted a screen capture so you can see the histogram. A nice even spread of light was what I was after. It was ashame the bird was to fast for the lens to hold the focus.



Thanks for the advice everyone.