Vignetting is a reduction of an image’s brightness (or saturation or sharpness) around the frame edges as compared to the center of the photo. It can be an undesirable and unintentional effect resulting from lens limitations or camera settings but it’s most often done deliberately during post-processing for creative effect (to draw attention to the center of the frame).
Although I occasionally enjoy them in old black and white photographs of people I’m not a fan of vignettes in nature photography. In bird, wildlife and landscape photography vignettes seem unnatural and pretentious to me. I really don’t like them (opinions on that will vary of course…).
But occasionally natural lighting can produce a vignette effect that I enjoy.
1/2500. f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning I visited a small pond I haven’t been to for several years and was pleasantly surprised to find at least 43 Common Mergansers of both sexes there. Due to overcast conditions the lighting was marginal at best but I couldn’t pass up a chance to be reasonably close to so many great birds so I hauled out my tripod and walked to the most desirable vantage point available and fired away.
Despite the poor light this image of a male stood out from the rest for me because of its natural vignetting. Reflections on the water from the bare trees behind the bird caused many of the frame edges to be significantly darker than the center of the image where the bird is. And I think the reflections and wave patterns at the top of the frame are unusually attractive.
Here’s the uncropped image to give us a better idea of the source of the dark reflections. I considered a vertical crop and composition which would have made the upper and lower frame edges darker and more contributive to the vignette effect but that would have been a squarish composition that doesn’t appeal to me.
I don’t think it’s a great image but I enjoy it and the vignette effect did get my attention.
Ron
Addendum: Just for the sake of curiosity I decided to add another version of the image. Here the vignetting effect is enhanced by providing more darkness at the top and bottom of the frame and it includes more of the lovely water reflections up top that I like but the squarish crop isn’t ideal.
That 2nd crop is so compelling…so rich…I could look at that for a long time!
SUE
Oh just WOW (insert redundant list of superlatives here)! What beautiful images! Like Frank said, it looks almost like a painting, but so much more beautiful since it’s what the Earth produces effortlessly everywhere 24/7. And that you capture these little slices of magic…just Oh WOW!
What a delightful picture. You should go there again. By the way I received a note in my email. We have our own AV Audubon now.(Antelope Valley) They already are doing great things. Building nest boxes for Burrowing Owls. Lancaster has contributed more acres to the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve, about 20 acres. They cleaned up the area today, so I can’t wait for everything to be done. I will be out there with my camera!
Sounds like habitat is picking up on your end, Jean. Hope it continues!
Oooh.
And ahhhh.
And thank you.
🙂
This one’s definitely a keeper! I let out a huge sigh when I saw the first image and realized I’ve been essentially holding my breath and clenching my muscles all morning. Until I looked at your lovely images. There’s something so pure and serene in the original shot. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh…. 🙂
“Art” can do that for us sometimes, Marty. And it’s very pleasant when it happens. Thanks very much.
Not a fan of vignette, however when it occurs naturally I will crop my photos to place the tonal changes around the edges of the photos rather than have a stripe dividing up my photo.
Lovely water colors and texture. I often wander around Tracey Aviary on inclement days and photograph the pelicans and ducks in pond one. At times I get mesmerized by the water colors and textures more than the birds.
I know what you mean, April. At times the water reflections are more visually arresting than the birds themselves. And I’m often ok with that.
I agree with Rocky about liking the first one best…for the same reasons. Just keep revisiting….the water is so beautiful…
Oh, don’t worry, Patty, I’ll go back. Even though standing for long periods while shooting from my tripod is very hard on my back I’ll have to revisit the pond.
I like all of the versions of this shot. I’ve not heard of vignetting before, but have certainly encountered that as an option to do with my photos. And I’ve never liked it. However, when the effect is achieved naturally, it’s a totally different animal, as shown with this bird. Of these versions, I like the first crop and the original best. Even though I like the water patterns I like the last crop the least. I think it’s because the water patterns sort of outshine the subject of the photo.
“when the effect is achieved naturally, it’s a totally different animal”
I agree absolutely, Susan.
Beautiful images of an elegant bird…the crisp black and white details of the bird against the softer grey silk moire of the gente waves create a very lovely, soothing effect….the vignette element provides another midtone that is additionally pleasing…
I appreciate your artistic observations, Patty. Thank you.
Stunning photo! The water has an incredible effect.
I agree about the water, Pam.
I think the water behind the bird is absolutely gorgeous. There is so much texture looks like it was almost painted in and makes the image for me. I like the natural vignetting here and I have to say, depending on the image, I sometimes will add a very slight vignette to some of my images. Just probably a hangover from my old darkroom days with landscapes. Additionally, for me, I would have added a little more the image in front of the bird, placing his head closer to the middle of the frame, giving him someplace to go but detracting from the natural vignette. Just a compromise. Regarding Dick Harlow’s comment re the vignette issue on his 100-400, is he using a full frame camera? That could be part of the explanation. Just a thought. At least this AM I didn’t have any issue getting my coffee down as I did yesterday while viewing your post.
Thanks again Ron, good stuff!
Thanks, Frank. While processing I considered allowing more room in front of the bird but there’s a patch of lighter water there (as you’ll notice in the uncropped version) which would have reduced the vignetting effect (as you mentioned). My cropping choice was a compromise.
Frank, I have a Canon Mark III with a 1.4X on the 100-400.
What am I doing wrong?
Dick, The Mark III is a full frame camera. Apparently there’s some vignetting issues with full frame cameras on that lens that don’t occur with cropped frame cameras like the 7D Mark II. Have you ever tried your lens on a cropped sensor camera?
A cropped frame would give you more reach for birds too…
Yes, on my once spare 50, but that was some time ago. At the moment I only have one camera body.
Hi Dick, Franks Sheets here. I was only speculating on the possibility you might see more Vignetting on a full frame sensor as compared to a crop sensor. To contradict myself, I believe the Canon 100-400, both versions are designed to use with a full frame camera like your 5DIII and is should not be a major issue. But I believe there are software fixes on various lenses. For instance, in Canon’s raw processing DPP4, you can download information for all Canon lenses plus extenders that can make corrections to images based on the lens’s used. Canon Digital Professional, the software, came on the disks you got when you purchased the camera and is available for download from the Canon website. I don’t know whether this will help, but it may.
Hi Frank,
I got this MKIII shortly after it came out and didn’t know about the software update.
Many thanks, I will look into your info.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I have the bad habit of not going out to take photos on cloudy days. I’m always disappointed with the photos. Yet, you show that we can all still learn from any photography experience.
Marlo “It’s cloud in Texas” Casabar
Marlo, if I didn’t shoot in cloudy conditions occasionally I don’t think I’d have been shooting at all for the past six weeks. I don’t remember having such a long stretch of dismal shooting conditions around here. Ever…
Very nice vignette, Ron, and the texture in the water is just gorgeous. This one could hang anywhere at my place, but I’d for sure want a copy on the cork board over my editing station in my little studio/computer room where I could see it everyday for a long time. For me, this shot has legs. Best….Mitch
Nice to hear that you like it so much, Mitch. And the more I think about it the more I’m considering trying that squarish crop, partly to get more of those reflections up top that I like so much.
Wow, what a handsome bird! These photos look almost like paintings.
Thank you, Annie.
Beautiful! The vignette issue can be good/bad depending. In this case it frames the photo nicely. 🙂 Always trade offs…..
Yup, vignettes are definitely a matter of taste, Judy.
Interesting post, thanks Ron.
I have vignette problems with my 100-400 and have to crop all the time.
A price I have to pay for not having a more expensive lens.
Dick, I know that unwanted vignetting is common in some telephoto zoom lenses, especially at some focal lengths, but I’ve never noticed a problem with it in my 100-400 (either the old version or the new one).
Any ideas of what I’m doing wrong?
Tell off your post if you’d prefer.
Dick, I can’t remember which camera you’re using but check out Frank Sheet’s thought in his comment above.