Just a single image this morning.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 1000, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light
I found this male Black-headed Grosbeak foraging in a tree near a Montana mountain lake on my first trip up there earlier this month . The setting is a little cluttered but to my eye it’s an attractive clutter.
I’m often puzzled by the noise, or lack thereof, I get from the Canon 7D at higher ISO’s. This photo was taken at ISO 1000, which I didn’t really need (I’d been shooting in other conditions just before and forgot to change my settings – the “rookie mistake” referred to in my title). The 7D generally doesn’t handle noise well above about ISO 640 so I was surprised that I didn’t have more of it here (image is cropped 50% and no noise reduction was used). This time I got less noise than expected but sometimes I get more. Go figure…
And as long as I’m on the subject of unexpected results – there’s an indistinct but noticeable vertical line in the far background at the top of the frame at upper right. I have no clue where it came from. It isn’t a processing artifact (all I did here was crop, then mask and sharpen the bird) so there may have been something unnatural back there to cause it but I sure didn’t think there was when I took the shot.
These are the kinds of things that drive me a little batty sometimes. If I knew I could rely on higher ISO’s with reasonable noise I’d use those settings to get shots that normally elude me. When I get unexpected and distracting background elements even when I’ve made the effort to maneuver myself into position to avoid them, it’s frustrating.
I’m constantly reminding myself that photography isn’t an exact science. And it isn’t easy or always predictable…
Ron
Ron:
you wrote … Interesting, Dave. I wonder what the physics is of noise in the blue channel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_noise
says about Gaussian amplification noise in images: “In color cameras where more amplification is used in the blue color channel than in the green or red channel, there can be more noise in the blue channel.”
Dave
Ron:
Neat shot of the Grosbeak!
I don’t know anything about noise in the 7D, but with Nikons, my experience is similar to what Scott Simmons mentioned – I see little noise when accidently using high ISOs in well-lit scenes. Also I have this in my notes about noise, but unfortunately I don’t know the source. It’s something I copied when first getting into digital photography.
“Most of digital-camera noise is segregated in the blue channel. You can easily eliminate noise by selecting the blue channel and running the Gaussian Blur filter. Start with small values of less than 1 pixel; the filter softens the image. Eliminating noise will also ensure that other operations, such as sharpening, won’t introduce or exaggerate artifacts.”
I have only tried this method of reducing noise a few times, but the statement is consistent with Scott’s comment about yellows, oranges, and greens.
I also echo Chuck Gangas’ comment welcoming you to come back east where the default perch is in a cluttered environment.
Dave
Interesting, Dave. I wonder what the physics is of noise in the blue channel.
You and Chuck aren’t the first “back east’ers” who have challenged me to shoot out there with your cluttered backgrounds. In addition to that problem you also have to contend with the lighting issues in such situations. The tradeoff is that you have significantly more birds than we do and yours tend to be easier to approach because of all the cover they have. I went shooting this morning and was skunked. Completely skunked! Had good light but no (cooperative) birds.
Nice shot! I’ve also been surprised at the unexpected times that my 7D gives me very little noise at higher ISOs. The best I can figure is that the 7D does better with noise with yellows, oranges, and greens, and it does comparatively poorly with blues. I’ve also found that when I make the same rookie mistake, using a high ISO in a well-lit scene, noise levels seem to go down. It happens frequently when I’m tracking a bird under cover but lands in a spot of sun. I often don’t have time to change my ISO, but sometimes even ISO 2000 looks okay if I don’t crop too much.
Interesting observation, Scott and what Dave Sparks said in his comment (above) backs you up. Your experience with noise in the 7D is pretty much the same as mine.
I’ve had no trouble with my 7D and noise. Have gone as high as 1000, no problem as long as my background is not solid black. When I did the Super Moon last weekend, I used 800, no problem. I think the diff is not necessaily the ISO, but all the other variables.
It’s the “variables” that vex me, Lane. Some of them are unpredictable in certain situations.
I smiled when I read your line about photography being neither easy nor always predictable. Sounds like watching birds – or life. And I agree with others, you are way too critical. Thank you so much for another incredible bird.
I am now off to check out yesterday’s post since I could view neither it nor Mia’s yesterday.
Good analogies, Elephant’s Child. Thank you.
No vertical line on my screen. Just a wonderful image, light in eye, in natural surroundings.
Please don’t be hard on yourself and your patience to wait for such great shots
I also have never heard of this bird
I’m glad you like it Diana (I do too) and thank you for the encouragement!
Beautiful shot! I’d never heard of this species before, cool bird.
Thanks, Cindy. This species isn’t very common in my neck of the woods and I’ve had very few opportunities with them.
Ron, I know how you feel about background distractions; I feel the same way, but this kind of image is environmentally descriptive so in such cases these backgrounds have to stay, and the flower bush is lovely, and so is the bird. I read the 7D had acceptable performance with high ISO’s and I’ve seen it in all of your images (unlike the 60D, which has supposedly the same sensor). If Canon could just streamline the 7D, I would consider it for its weather sealing and speed. As for being ‘overly critical’ of one’s work, I think it’s beneficial to the extent that it’s geared towards problem solving and self improvement. I don’t know that being ‘overly critical’ is a character ‘flaw’, as much as it is a genuine desire to deliver the best quality possible, as it could well be your case. I suppose some of the issues are to what extent one can become overly ‘critical’ of oneself or not; whether it’s going to be blamed on camera equipment, software, or lighting conditions. I try not to blame anything on camera equipment anymore because I can fall into the trap of “newer” is “better”, and I did buy a new camera recently. Photography, for better or worse, is constantly improving, particularly the AF and ergonomics, and this trend and market with digital imaging has the ability to keep many great photographers on their toes as far as having acceptable gear to handle most lighting situations and speed with AF so as to not miss ‘the moment’.
Maria, I’ve been anxiously waiting for the 7D replacement for too long now.
Being critical of your own work has its pluses and minuses, like most everything else. Everyone takes shots that aren’t up to snuff – the trick is making the decision as to what to present publicly. And for what reason…
Did you have your 7D sensor cleaned? I was about to almost consider getting a 7D, because my 60D broke down. Have you had to have your 7D serviced for any reason? I obviously decided to wait because a 7D replacement should be coming out soon. My guess is that they will improve the AF and add more AF points; they might also streamline it a little (if they do a good job on this, I might actually get one), and they might throw in a few more megapixels (to distinguish it from the 60D), and more frames per second? I asked if you had to send in your 7D for anything because I had to send in my 60D for repair and I’ve only had it for 2 years. The 7D is supposed to be the flagship Canon crop-factor model and it’s supposed to be weather sealed and faster than the mid-range model 60D. Canon really likes to draw the line between “prosumer” cameras and their advanced models. For their “prosumer” cameras they don’t do ANY weather sealing at all, so they eventually push you into the 7D model, because the 60D is just like a bigger Rebel (with few more fearures though). Now, Canon service is A+. I had my camera back within a week; and they fixed the problem and cleaned the sensor as well. I’m now staying with a new Rebel I have and the 60D. If the 7D replacement reaches the size of the 60D, I might consider getting it.
Re 7D. I’ve had mine for 2 years, and love-love-love it. It’s the perfect camera for capturing my waterbirds, horses, and any other moving target, and has consistently rendered beautiful color. I also have a 5Dm2, and it’s taken me almost a year to like it. Yes, it’s full frame + 21 mp, but I’ve found that it’s virtually useless for action of most any kind, because the paltry 3fps just doesn’t cut it. It’s a perfect portrait camera, tho, so when the birds pose (like wild blue herons), then I -might- use it. 99% of the time I’ve got my 7D at work, tho. (No, I don’t work or shill for Canon.). Also, I’ve found that beyond 18 mp, they don’t matter so much unless you’re planning on printing huge >24×36 images. 16×24 and 24×36 does very well with 18 mp, assuming your eqpt and skill produces a tack sharp image to begin with.
I agree with everything you said, Lane – particularly about loving the 7D. I have absolutely no interest in a full frame camera since I mostly shoot birds and need the crop factor. And a fast burst rate is critical. I look forward to the new version of the 7D but I’ve been very happy with the old one.
Maria, I have two 7D’s and I’ve been very happy with them both. I bought the first one immediately after the 7D came out and have used it heavily. If I remember correctly I’ve had the sensor cleaned once but it’s been a trouble-free camera. I bought the second 7D after I had about 350,000 clicks on the shutter of the first one and I got nervous about the shutter quitting on me while I was on a photo trip. I’ve used that original camera extensively since then and it’s still going strong.
Ron- This is an extremely attractive and perfectly acceptable image, IMO. Honestly I think you’re overly critical-come back east where all one finds is birds in the “cluttered” environment that you found here and you’ll be very happy to get such an outstanding image of a subject in habitat. Nice capture!
Chuck, I guess I’ve got to remember that this is my blog and not a critique forum like NPN – I think posting there for so many years colored my way of thinking about nature photos. Thank you for your insight. I hope all is well with you!
Fantastic shot Ron. Overly critical in my opinion.
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte. Perhaps I am overly critical – a tendency I sometimes have to be careful of.
Beautiful shot of a beautiful bird..like background…provides context and additional beauty…love tiny touch of yellow on wing. No vertical line on my screen. Photography may be an inexact science, but to me it an art and takes an artist’s eye…and a heck of a lot of experience, knowledge and luck! That’s why I have no problems with, no, that’s why I APPRECIATE minor touch ups. Your photos are not only incredible art, but they teach truth. Sometimes “extraneous clutter” has to be peeled away to get truth across most purely. Once a teacher, always a teacher….you’re still at it!
Thanks very much, Patty. I liked your teaching reference…