This is one of the oldest bird images in my files, taken on 6/17/07 and very soon after I became serious about bird photography. At the time I was still shooting JPEGs (rather than RAW).
In my ignorance, making the decision to start shooting RAW was stressful for me. I was already overwhelmed by everything I had yet to master, from camera and lens operation to computer and processing skills and I was reluctant to add yet another layer to the mountain of “stuff” I had to learn. After about 6 months I finally took the plunge and changed the setting on my old Canon XTi from JPEG to RAW and I’ve never looked back. The only thing I’ve ever regretted was taking so long to make the change. To this day I dread having to process one of those older images that was taken as a JPEG (like the photo below).
The JPEG vs RAW debate has been around for a while and I don’t mean to settle it here. All I know is that I much prefer processing RAW files for a variety of reasons.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
I always get a kick out of seeing birds in spread-eagled poses like this Yellow-headed Blackbird is demonstrating – it makes me think that if they don’t let go they’re going to split down the middle clear to the wishbone (furcula). Usually when I see this pose the two “perches” the bird is grasping are green reeds with many other reeds of similar colors nearby in the frame. But the contrasting light color of these dried cattails from the previous year makes them stand out so much that it reminded me of a blackbird on stilts – thus the title.
The photo was taken just after sunrise so the light had a warming effect on the blacks of the bird.
Ron
Wonderful, wonderful photo, but are you sure that bird is on stilts…looks like he’s using chopsticks to me!
Hi Ron:
Beautiful shot: I love it! (and have never personally seen one of these guys- thank you for showing them to me).
I shoot only Raw,which is so much more versatile and allows you to really manage your image. They do take ip space- I have a bunch of big external drives to accomodate all of my images. When I give the images to clients, family ir friends,, I always save their copy as jpg – pretty much the only thing most people can open on their computers.
Again. Thank you fr the fabulous image!
What a stunning bird, and just for a change (not) photo. When/if I move away from happy snaps this is something I am going to have to consider. Yet again, I have learnt from you – and been enthralled in the process. Thank you.
Simply wonderful photograph! To get shots such as this proves how much you’re in the field. It doesn’t happen by accident. Nice work!
I was fortunate to have received good advice (and actually took it!) when I started in photography last year that RAW was the way to go. I’ve not regretted it.
Ron,
Looks like we started getting serious about bird photography at about the same time. Like you, I resisted shooting RAW for a time, but like you, once I started I’ve never considered doing it any other way. Given how little storage costs I don’t see file size as an impediment.
I agree absolutely, John. Storage is so cheap these days that I don’t see file size as an issue.
Great shot and what a beautiful bird!
I’m another holding off from RAW because of hard disc space. Also because I don’t take many photos.I suspect that if/when I do make the switch I’ll become more obsessive…
I suspect you’re right, Diane – prepare for obsessiveness if/when you do it. But it’s great fun.
Fabulous photo! I couldn’t help laughing out loud when I saw it.
Good! It made me chuckle a bit too, Susan.
Beautiful! But I’m having a hard time picturing how the bird landed and took off from that position. It seems it would be difficult.
I’m not sure how it was done either, Leisa. The bird was already perched when I first noticed it. I don’t see taking off as much of a problem but grasping those reeds in the first place must have been tricky.
Although I agree shooting in RAW is preferably the better option-this image is superb. Which shows you had the techs down pretty well here.
Cool shot Ron.
Thank you, Chuck. You’re right, I had the exposure pretty close on this shot in camera – that didn’t happen very often with me back then 🙂
Ah, you are the man!! Great shot, either way!! He is like saying “Hey, look what I can do!”
I have been in the same boat, probably more worried about the space on the computer and hard disc than anything else back than, but took the plunge last year, and I haven’t looked back either. I couldn’t believe the data that was lost by just using just jpeg! However, I have to admit that I do go back to jpeg when doing snapshots of family and friends. But, when it comes the art that is closest to my heart doing birds, mammals, plants and critters, raw is the way to go!
Dick, You’re right, one of the big concerns for many about the switch to RAW is the huge (in comparison) file size. But throwing away all that image info when you shoot JPEG just doesn’t make sense for me – even when shooting snapshots because occasionally I want to do something special with one of those shots and it’s impossible to predict ahead of time which one it might be. Thanks very much for your thoughts on this.