A bit different...

[Steve Kaluski]

• Canon EOS R5
• EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
• ƒ/5.6
• 500mm
• 1/160s
• ISO 5000
• Steve Kaluski
• Wed, 02 August 2023 9:43 AM
• www.untamedimages.co.uk
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.5 (Macintosh)

I could not have picked a worse day to photograph the Kingfisher, GSW, Tawny chics and any LBJ's, because the rain from leaving the house at 5.30am to getting back at 10.30pm can down in biblical proportion and the small stream that the KF's fished in became a raging white water, bring down all the detritus that folk had discarded the previous day. It was unbelievable, plus I was becoming very unhappy about the kit and a certain issue that was arising in both cameras, meaning a lot of deep thinking, exchanges with Canon, lots of bracketed test shots, exchanges with Artie & Rudy, hopefully now we are back on an even keel.

So faced with crap weather and cameras that were not performing as they should, time to just suck it up and try and think of creating something different and moving away from the 'static' Kingfisher. Trying to capture the rain you need to go down a particular path, but it also offered some, what I think is some fun images, but more marmite... :bg3: To me everything needs to be exaggerarted/OTT, perhaps even 'electric' I don't know...
Thanks to those who posted or viewed the previous posting.

Steve

Subject: Kingfisher shaking (F) (Alcedo atthis)
Location: UK
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
Exposure: 1/160s at f/5.6 ISO5000
Original format: Landscape, tiny crop almost FF
Processed via: DT LRCC 12.5 & PS'23 24.7.0

 

[kevin Hice]

Well Steve doesn't float my boat but can't blame you for trying to salvage something. Sounds like a nasty day all around. Not sure really what to comment but you gave it a shot. TFS.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve ... different and interesting for sure . Making the most out of a not ideal day is sometimes not too bad ...
Basically it does work for me , specially the stark contrast of subject and surroundings on the color front .... does look great . The flying droplets adding a great ton of dynamic ...:c3:.
Just wish ... you had a frame with the eye " visible "

Cool shot , well executed .

TFS Andreas

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Well Steve doesn't float my boat but can't blame you for trying to salvage something.

Hi Kevin, I have the hide of a Rhino :bg3:, so don't worry about being negative, as I did say... it's a marmite shot.

All I'm suggesting here is occasionally think outside the box, yes I do have KF's in the rain, but it's another BOAS, so I'm just suggesting. Also light was of a premium which I'm used too and pushing the ISO to 5000 is almost a default, but again, I'm trying to get you folk to not be afraid of ISO, just think of it as a number. If you haven't already do in after being with Artie, just swop the dial for EV to ISO and dial up or down to get your Histogram to work for the 'perfect' exposure. It won't be spot on, but good enough to work with and if it's a bit light, dial the exp down. If you have good data it's amazing what you can do, just because the camera has captured it bright, don't be afraid to adjust it.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

• Apple iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro back triple camera 6mm f/2
• ƒ/2
• 6mm
• 1/60s
• ISO 250
• Flash not fired
• 54.770869445
• -1.695475
• 472597m above sea level
• Wed, 02 August 2023 2:02 PM
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 12.5 (Macintosh)

Basically it does work for me , specially the stark contrast of subject and surroundings on the color front ....

LOL Andreas, you do have a thing about dark backdrops, but it's the nature of the beast. Yes I have pushed it, to emphasis even more pop, but for me, you have to be bold and push it from the norm. Kit is weather sealed, albeit even Lenscoat was struggling to keep things dry, but it can dry out later.

Just wish ... you had a frame with the eye " visible "

This must be a German joke like 'Dinner for One'? :bg3: If not, would really appreciate how you would achieve this? :S3:


BTW, a quick snapshot on the iPhone of the shooting environment for you & Kevin.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

A very good evening to you, dear Steve:S3:

This is indeed very different... although somehow 'against the grain' in comparison to what I am used to seeing from you. Quite ingenuous when it comes to light and colour, given the contrast between the dark background and the bright, colourful subject.

I love the speed and sense of movement here and the intensity of the moment dictated by circumstances. Overall a provocative, experimental work that moves the imagination and I think Sir Arthur will like it:tinysmile_shy_t:

Looking forward to what the others have to say...

Warmest regards,

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Sorry Gabriela, not getting notifications.

Thanks, just trying to be a tad creative with limited options. Not sure it would float Artie's boat, but he is the only one I have seen to post different ideas and that is what its all about, refreshing old thinking.... :S3:

BTW, just had the green light so looks like everything is on. :wave:

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Sorry Gabriela, not getting notifications.

Thanks, just trying to be a tad creative with limited options. Not sure it would float Artie's boat, but he is the only one I have seen to post different ideas and that is what its all about, refreshing old thinking.... :S3:

BTW, just had the green light so looks like everything is on. :wave:

No problem Steve, I also do not get notifications. I find your ability to think out of the box very inspiring. And thought Artie would like this because he too loves to experiment.

Super happy to hear about the good news:5:bg3:, speak soon!

 

[kevin Hice]

Yes I try to do something different just usually doesn't work for me. Steve thanks to you Andreas have gotten me to push the ISO. The stream looks like a monsoon raging tough conditions for sure.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Kevin, this was just the start.

I will post something shortly, ISO that both I and Andreas have no issue with, you just have to have the mindset that ISO as I said, is just a number. OK, it’s the R5 you have, but seriously 6400, 12.800 isn’t a problem. Yes, we perhaps don’t have the light you have which may push us, but if you shoot manual, you set a good SS, the right aperture and go ETTR, no worries. Try it over the weekend if you can, no need to go crazy, but if you build on your confidence, the world is your Lobster… as we say. :w3

 

[Arthur Morris]

As a co-author of A Guide to Pleasing Blurs, I love this one. It checks all the boxes for me. Focus is accurate, exposure and processing are spot on, and the image design is good. I love the flying water and the degree of blurring.

Keep the blurs coming!

with love, a

ps: it is more a matter of pushing the shutter button when something unexpected happens than it is of thinking outside the box, IMO

 

[Arthur Morris]

ps: Consider using a much smaller font for your signature. As posted, it is oppressive.

with love, a

 

[Steve Kaluski]

s a co-author of A Guide to Pleasing Blurs, I love this one. It checks all the boxes for me. Focus is accurate, exposure and processing are spot on, and the image design is good. I love the flying water and the degree of blurring.

Keep the blurs coming!

WOW Artie, thank you.

ps: Consider using a much smaller font for your signature. As posted, it is oppressive.

Artie, I have not changed it for donkeys years, I think it comes back to this 'scaling issue' that Arash mentioned a while back, when folk were saying images looked soft. At actual size 1920px is 4.8 inches.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

LOL Andreas, you do have a thing about dark backdrops, but it's the nature of the beast. Yes I have pushed it, to emphasis even more pop, but for me, you have to be bold and push it from the norm. Kit is weather sealed, albeit even Lenscoat was struggling to keep things dry, but it can dry out later.




This must be a German joke like 'Dinner for One'? :bg3: If not, would really appreciate how you would achieve this? :S3:


BTW, a quick snapshot on the iPhone of the shooting environment for you & Kevin.

Steve can't follow your wording or the meaning of it , before I answer something that goes wrong I stay quiet :bg3:.

 

[William Dickson]

Deffo different and it does work for me. I have a few of the KF in blurred shots, but decided not to show them on here, as I thought people wouldn't like them, as the eye was not shown... I suppose it's a matter of taste. I like this though, and its given me encouragement to process my blurred ones :S3:

Will

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Thanks Will, go for it, never be afraid to post, you just never know… Looking forward to seeing something new. :cheers:

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

• Jon Ashton ARPS
• Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 15.5 (Windows)

It's a decent shot Steve, as you say something different, I posted something along similar lines back in 2012:-

 

[Arthur Morris]

It's a decent shot Steve, as you say something different, I posted something along similar lines back in 2012:-

Jon. You need to give Steve signature lessons

with love, a

psL I am serious!