Dark Side of the Goose

[Dave Goldberg]

• Canon EOS R7
• RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
• ƒ/7.1
• 500mm
• 1/400s
• ISO 640
• Mon, 03 February 2025 10:27 AM

This started off as a throw-away shot in flat and cloudy lighting with a busy background. I’ve been experimenting with low key effects so I brought down the background and attempted to bring out the bird’s details with it’s muddy face. It turned out to be more interesting than I expected.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Interesting Dave, I'm warming to it...

I do like the more muted coloured, drab colours, and the mottled BKG has an almost painted feel, with these mixtures of black tones, almost a Goth Goose.

Personally I feel a bit more DoF to capture more of that texture and muddy plumage, behind the eye and down the neck, because I always feel that's what it's all about... detail/textures/tone with shots like this.

Something like this at that ISO no need for any NR, but if you are using DXO then there have been a few updates since Monday allowing R1 files to be processed too. Sharpening, I think you could add a bit more, although DT is pants for this, Ps still has the best sharpening available, but DT masking is good.

TFS
Steve

 

[Dave Goldberg]

Personally I feel a bit more DoF to capture more of that texture and muddy plumage, behind the eye and down the neck, because I always feel that's what it's all about... detail/textures/tone with shots like this.

Thanks Steve, I agree about the DoF. This shot was a very close range so the DoF was pretty narrow, and cranking up the f/# would have affected the background. But these guys are pretty bold, so I'll have more opportunities to experiment.

No DxO for this shot, all processing was within Darktable. I know that you're not big on the program and I do appreciate our debates on DT vs PS, but I'm not convinced that the PS has that much of an edge over the various sharpening options within DT. Given that I don't use Adobe, I really can't tell if one is better over the other.

Dave G.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Dave, thanks for the add info, however if you did increase the DoF I doubt much more would come into focus.

Don’t get me wrong, DT has some good points and like the majority of ‘photo’ software, it has its pros & cons, but re sharpening its open to debate, but we can park that.

Interesting to hear what the R7MK2 may inherit.

Looking forward to more

 

[Dave Goldberg]

Interesting to hear what the R7MK2 may inherit.

Hopefully Canon will have corrected some of the autofocus quirks.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Dave ... cool " Darth Vader " edit !!!
I like it !!!
Just the BG is kinda grainy ... a bit too much for my taste .
DOF is borderline but fully acceptable for my liking

TFS Andreas

 

[Dave Goldberg]

Hi Dave ... cool " Darth Vader " edit !!!
I like it !!!
Just the BG is kinda grainy ... a bit too much for my taste .
DOF is borderline but fully acceptable for my liking

TFS Andreas

Yes, I'm finding more things to address with the background as I dig a bit deeper. Thanks for your thoughts.

Dave G.