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My girlfriend and I were shown around Newcastle by Peter over the weekend, making the trip rather photographic. However I have not had the chance to have a close look at my photos, but here are a few that I like.

These birds were so used to human interaction that they let us get very close to them.

Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm, full image


Just as we thought that the Cormorant was nice....

Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, full image


It was grey and overcast....any processing suggestions?


then the sun came out a bit...suggestions please!!

Great to see you got that 70-200 out for a workout. I like teh first, good angle on the Cormorant, a slightly tigher crop would go don a treat.

The second is also very nice, I actually don't mind the steel fence in this case, it creates a nice line to the bird! He/She also has a very 'down the nose' posture and expression. If the fence was an issue, you would have plenty of pixels to go in tight for a head and shoulders crop!

Wow...you got in quickly!!

so damn quick I did not even see the last two pictures!

Great to hear that you enjoyed my new backyard....

I quite like the #4 for it's perspective and the leading lines. Would have been a perfect candidate for a grad filter or two!

aim54x wrote:It was grey and overcast....any processing suggestions?

Perhaps a high contrasty (almost white) BW?

Did you catch the sunset on the 26th by chance? It was half decent! [not as good as 28th though; This year, the three cracker sunsets have been on Mondays!]

biggerry wrote:Great to see you got that 70-200 out for a workout. I like teh first, good angle on the Cormorant, a slightly tigher crop would go don a treat.
...
so damn quick I did not even see the last two pictures!

Yes you did...I went in and added them then saw your post!

It was great to get out there with the 70-200mm, it simply does not see enough action, but I was glad I got use out of it this trip (all too often it does not leave the bag).

biggerry wrote:The second is also very nice, I actually don't mind the steel fence in this case, it creates a nice line to the bird! He/She also has a very 'down the nose' posture and expression. If the fence was an issue, you would have plenty of pixels to go in tight for a head and shoulders crop!

I was really happy with this one...it may be a candidate for MaskPro to remove skies from and splice in another background sky...if I can be bothered, but I probably cant.

surenj wrote:Great to hear that you enjoyed my new backyard....

I quite like the #4 for it's perspective and the leading lines. Would have been a perfect candidate for a grad filter or two!

aim54x wrote:It was grey and overcast....any processing suggestions?

Perhaps a high contrasty (almost white) BW?

Did you catch the sunset on the 26th by chance? It was half decent! [not as good as 28th though; This year, the three cracker sunsets have been on Mondays!]

Your new backyard is a nice place, and we did get the sunset on the 26th, I'll post some up when I get home tonight.

aim54x wrote:and we did get the sunset on the 26th

Hmm so did I.... Mite post that up later tonight if I get a chance.

aim54x wrote:it may be a candidate for MaskPro to remove skies from and splice in another background sky

I am not convinced. The sky is not distracting at the moment and probably should remain that way. You could possibly do some work on the bird to improve contrast, color and sharpness to make it pop a little.
If you are going to replace the sky with a more lively one, you may have a big job ahead of you. Also if you do, I'd love to see how you do it.
Perhaps open post processing thread for people to work on it.....

surenj wrote:

aim54x wrote:it may be a candidate for MaskPro to remove skies from and splice in another background sky

I am not convinced. The sky is not distracting at the moment and probably should remain that way. You could possibly do some work on the bird to improve contrast, color and sharpness to make it pop a little.
If you are going to replace the sky with a more lively one, you may have a big job ahead of you. Also if you do, I'd love to see how you do it.
Perhaps open post processing thread for people to work on it.....

I just want to see if MaskPro is up to the job....but i will have to find a more lively sky though....

Cameron

It was great to play host for you guys - I had a great time with the pair of you. #4 is my pick here - light and composition work well and great use of the late afternoon light to throw stronger shadows. #3 I'd try in B & W

stubbsy wrote:Cameron

It was great to play host for you guys - I had a great time with the pair of you. #4 is my pick here - light and composition work well and great use of the late afternoon light to throw stronger shadows. #3 I'd try in B & W

I cant thank you enough for playing host Peter. We had a great weekend away. I will have a peek at #3 in B+W, I may warm up #4 to see if i can get a bit more out of it.

B+W as promised

BW is much better. Perhaps back off the dark area on the top a little.

surenj wrote:BW is much better. Perhaps back off the dark area on the top a little.

I was actually tempted to crop it away...

aim54x wrote:I was actually tempted to crop it away...

Fair enough; although my quick browser-scroll to crop technique indicates that this may cause too much disturbance in the feng shui.

surenj wrote:

aim54x wrote:I was actually tempted to crop it away...

Fair enough; although my quick browser-scroll to crop technique indicates that this may cause too much disturbance in the feng shui.

Which is why I restrained...I couldnt find a crop that I liked