Goosing it

[purplehaze]

Hi all,

I have been absent these many months because my eyesight was affected by my chemo treatment. I have been on a new chemo drug since the start of the new year and my eyes have improved enough that I have picked up the camera again (and added a second Z mount lens to my lineup, the Nikkor 85 mm f1.8). My shooting and post-processing skills are a little rusty, but I am hoping to get back up to speed with your help.

Canada Geese are so abundant where I live that I tend to overlook them as subjects, but I really shouldn't. I caught these shots among others yesterday and am wondering whether you have any suggestions for processing. I should have been shooting on manual for greater depth of field, perhaps, but like I said, I am out of practice. These were both shot with the Nikkor 500mm PF.

[Round Tuit]

Welcome back Janis. What a pleasant surprise.

I can't help you with the photos because they both look good to me.

[LenR]

Hi Janis, nice to see you posting again. I have found myself in a similar situation to what you have been experiencing. After months of ill health, a diagnosis has finally been made and immuno therapy treatments start this week.
I prefer the 2nd image although wonder if the small bright spots on the tail feathers could be cloned out?
All the best with your ongoing treatments.....

[whited3]

They look well shot to me Janis. Good DoF, sharp and the contrast between the geese and the white background is great.

[AntonioCorreia]

Janis, I loved this photograph: delicate, serene, and full of character, with two posing geese both with protective wings and an attentive gaze, conveying grace and elegance.
The sharpness of the image and the white background further highlight the shapes and curves of the feathers in two images of great sensitivity.
You mentioned you had been unwell, and I’d like to wish you a swift and peaceful recovery.
Thank you for sharing.

[DanK]

Lovely to see you back. Beautiful images. I prefer the first only because it's an uncommon pose.

[billtils]

Just a quick "me too" to all the welcome back and good wishes posts Janis.

[purplehaze]

Thank you all for your warm welcome and generous feedback. The nice spare background of the images was due to the fact that the bird was standing on ice that I imagine will be gone by next week. Though we did wake up to snow yesterday morning, so who knows? Uncertainty reigns everywhere, on every level. It builds resiliency, they say. I have at long last learned to just take the days as they come.

I am so sorry to hear you that you have been grappling with ill health, Len, and hope that things turn around soon. I have outlived my prognosis by more than a year now and am in better shape physically than many of my peers. I think it is a damn good sign that I was able to carry that 500 mm lens for several hours without feeling it.

[purplehaze]

My focus was off on this one and the eye was quite soft. i do like the pose, though, so I tried to rescue it with DXO PureRaw and some selective sharpening and clarity adjustment in Capture One.

I started printing and selling notecards with my bird photos a couple of years ago. I am hoping I can place some with the local nature centre where these were shot.

[purplehaze]

Too much fun.

Again, focus could have been better on this one, but hopefully, I will be prepared next time.