Spangled Drongo

[Ironwood]

I haven't had much time for shooting any photos lately due to some projects I have on ( building a pergola at the pool, and a bathroom reno ), I took these this afternoon when I got home from work and before I started work on the pergola.
I am a bit disappointed in them due to how much noise they had, I have ran them through Nik Dfine, they look better, but still lacking.
They are all shot at iso3200, f8, 1/1000 & 600mm.

Spangled Drongo.

[Pete]

First I thought you had photographed me Brad, then I had a closer look, Beautiful shots, especially number 2 how did you get him to wave at you.

Pete

Actually had another look #2 looks a little like you are getting the finger.

[Ironwood]

Cheers Pete. You should have heard what he said when he was giving me the bird in #2, lucky there is no audio

[Pete]

But I can imagine!!!!

[Alan]

These are great Brad - love #2

Lovely light, pose and comp in #3 too. Captured the black and sheen well

[Ironwood]

Thanks Alan.

[seaslug]

#2 for me too!

[Ironwood]

Cheers Greg.

[Phoenix]

oh lol for number 2.... what a pose! Love it.
On my screen you can't see much noise, on iso 3200 my camera's images would be blurty as a pimply teenager.
Like the eye contact and sweet bokeh in number 3.

[Ironwood]

oh lol for number 2.... what a pose! Love it.
On my screen you can't see much noise, on iso 3200 my camera's images would be blurty as a pimply teenager.
Like the eye contact and sweet bokeh in number 3.

Hey, thanks Jo.
I am still not sure what was going on in #2, I think he was scratching the back of his head, then noticed me taking the photo and stopped mid scratch to glare at me Not called a Drongo for nothing I suppose .

I like #3 as well, but that branch in front detracts from the shot.

iso3200 is as high as I dare to go and still be able to recover a shot, I am sorely tempted by the Nikon D500 coming soon, rumoured to be so much better at high iso than my D7100.

[Mark L]

The noise? in these is quite bearable. Somehow they all need a bit more detail.

iso3200 is as high as I dare to go and still be able to recover a shot

So you should start trying that ETTR stuff at higher ISOs. Overexpose and pull back in PP works well with the darker areas in a photo.

[Ironwood]

Thanks for the comments Mark. Running the images through NIK Dfine reduced the noise, perhaps at the expense of some of the detail. I feel I am at the limit with the available light where I am shooting , to ETTR I need to either raise the iso even more, reduce the shutter speed even more or use a wider aperture, if I don't already have it at max., F8 or above, seems to be about where this lens (Tamron 150-600) is sharpest. I suppose I could start using a tripod at the expense of mobility, though subject movement still dictates shutter speed to an extent. Any advice and ideas are welcome. If I had more time, I could chase better light, but at the moment I am restricted I am restricted to shooting late in the afternoon, and at my property which is heavily tree'd and shaded. Photography is just a hobby for me, I do it purely for my pleasure ( though it does frustrate me at times )