23: These guys are quite difficult to expose.

These guys are quite difficult to expose.

4 comments so far...

bcAnna March 19, 2010, 07:08 AM

Terrific photo!
Yes, they are so black and so shy, I've been trying to photograph one for a long time.

mramshaw March 19, 2010, 07:41 PM

Thank you for the comments. I was happy to get the red eyes and
highlights on the beak. Normally the beaks will get over-exposed,
so that has to be allowed for. If you are still for long enough, they
will often drift closer. Lots of patience!

This was part of a bunch I posted for composition comparisons.
I was kind of fishing for suggestions here, the central focus is
considered bad form but kind of required with super-zooms.

It desperately cries out for a crop, but I like the soft water.

Sonja June 20, 2017, 02:14 PM

In order not to overexpose a cute coot face... down some f-stops, then lighten the midtones in your graphic software to bring back out feather detail.... ;o)
Somehow, those american coots look strange with the third red eye instead of the huge white Mona Lisa brow....

mramshaw June 20, 2017, 09:50 PM

Yep, as compared to film, over-exposing with digital is fatal.

[Film has what is called a 'soft shoulder'.]

[I've learned lots of stuff like this over the years.]

Most cameras under-expose (up to half a stop or so) to avoid clipping.

When I took this, I had only just learned that noon is a really bad time to be taking pictures.