Beech Tree - Textured

Beech Tree - Backlit Leaves

While walking through the woods in my back yard I spotted this beech tree with just a few leaves that had not shed last fall. (We have a number of beech trees that did not shed.)  Noticing the backlit leaves I captured this and then in post  added texture and edge treatment  using layers and blends. I found the simplicity captivating.

Noise Reduction - Canon 7D and ISO 3200

Question: "Shiv, do you do much post-processing on images shot at ISO 3200 with your 7D? I have many such photos from our Costa Rica trip and wonder if I can improve some a little by reducing "grain"."Response: When you shoot at ISO 3200 you need to process using Canon's DPP for the initial Noise Reduction before you do any work in Aperture, Lightroom or ACR. Now you can bring the images into Photoshop and use NIK's Define if you have it or use the noise reduction in Adobe Camera Raw for further noise reduction if required - I find Define to be about the best.

Canon 7D - ISO 3200

Jan 23, 2010 - Wakodahatchee Wetlands - Gator. I waited for the light to get really miserable - cranked the 7D to ISO 3200 and shot this image. The image has not been edited or cropped - i used Lightroom to export it to JPEG in the sRGB color space - no resizing. You may click on the image to see the full resolution. I AM HAPPY!!!!!!!

 

Gator - ISO Test

EOS 7D - 500 mm IS, 1/800 at f 10.0, -2/3 EV, ISO 3200

Low and Poor Light High ISO experiments

Saturday Jan 23, 2010 - Wakodahatchee Wetlands once more. I did not see what the forecast was but was the light poor - dark clouds with an occasional break. Time to test the 7d as I wanted to yesterday. I will post my ISO 3200 image in a subsequent blog - a straight conversion from RAW to JPEG.

Came across a family of Black Crowned Night Herons at the entrance - too separated for a good family portrait. Shot a few individuals. There is a lot of nesting activity and this female flew by just as I had put a card into my 1D. 

 

Female Anhinga with Nesting Material

EOS 1D Mk II (my old faithful) 70 - 200 IS, 1.4x, 1/1000 at f 5.6 ISO 400

This big male gator comes swimming under the boardwalk and gets up on the island - boring - ok so after a while ......... a big yawn.

 

Gator Yawn

EOS 7D - 500 mm IS, 1/640 at f 8.0, ISO 1000

There has been a single spoonbill in the wetlands for a few days - always beyond the reach of my 500 and 1.4x combination. This morning this spoonbill flies over - a few flight shots (rear end mainly) but then it lands toward the entrance to the complex. As usual - one hour of him on one led head and bill tucked into his wing. An eternity and then some movement. A pick up my gear and head toward this specimen. What a display - bathing, splashing, preening, strutting - the works. Full breeding plumage - BEAUTIFUL - a mate is needed. The next three images are all the same bird.

I shot some video footage that I will try and post later.

Roseate Spoonbill Bathing

EOS 7D - 500 mm IS, 1/640 at f 5.6, -2/3 EV ISO 500

 

Roseate Spoonbill Preening

EOS 7D - 500 mm IS, 1/250 at f 7.1, -2/3 EV ISO 500

 

Roseate Spoonbill on the move

EOS 7D - 500 mm IS, 1/800 at f 5.6, -2/3 EV ISO 1000

7D ISO 1000 Test

Friday January 22 - The light just kept getting worse as the afternoon progressed. I decided to go to Wakodahatchee and push the 7D a bit - ISO 1000 hand held. I was pleasantly surprised ............, next I will push it to ISO 2000 (only when the opportunity presents itself).

Great Blue Herons Ardea herodias Courting and Nesting

EOS 7D, 70 - 200 IS, 1.4x, 1/200 at f 5.6, ISO 1000