Thanks, Alan. That does look a lot better.
And thanks for the tip re working different areas.
Yes, the dunnock is usually skulking around the bottom of hedgerows, etc.
It was good to see him(?) just outside the window!

And thanks to you as well, Gareth!
I'm not withdrawing really. It was that I felt I was getting nowhere with these two posts, having been pleased with them enough to post.......

But when I say "C&C Welcome", I DO MEAN IT!

I've been taking photographs for the last 40+ years, but I seem to get into a mucking fuddle with the technology, & all.

But I shall persevere &, as you say Alan, continue to do my best to beat my limitations.

With your help!

Thanks again,

Roger.

No, Gareth.
Nothing wrong with such a combination, per se.
It just seems I'm over-reaching myself in those two respects.

The kit used, for all images on both posts is:

Pentax K7.
Pentax 1:4-5.8 55-300mm ED, @ 300mm.
Hand-held.
Photoshop Elements 9.

So, no excuses!

Roger.

I think that where my problem lies is that I'm trying to combine my love of both birds & photography....But on a pretty tight budget & several attempts to run before I can walk!

What I have learnt from both this Post & "Berry, berry cold", is to accept my limitations, both in equipment & skills.

I can keep saving for the former & keep honing the latter, with the help from all my colleagues here.

I don't know about other Pentax sites.

This one will do me!

Many thanks for your interest, efforts, understanding & patience.

I will continue to offer up my efforts for your Comments & Criticism.


A strategic withdrawal from


Coker

I think that where my problem lies is that I'm trying to combine my love of both birds & photography....But on a pretty tight budget & several attempts to run before I can walk!

What I have learnt from both this Post & "Dunnock", is to accept my limitations, both in equipment & skills.

I can keep saving for the former & keep honing the latter, with the help from all my colleagues here.

I don't know about other Pentax sites.

This one will do me!

Many thanks for your interest, efforts, understanding & patience.

I will continue to offer up my efforts for your Comments & Criticism.


A strategic withdrawal from


Coker.

Thanks for that, Tim.

Don't you think the bird looks a little "flat"?

Round & round & round &......

Roger.

O.k., everyone!
Here's the original (jpeg) image, as delivered by the camera.



[IMG]http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af340/rogerhlane/Dunnock001.jpg[/IMG]



Adjust away!
But please give me an idea of your processing steps so that I, & others, can look & learn!


Thanks for all the interest,

Roger.

Thanks Andrew & Tim.

Is this better, Tim?
I didn't want to over-cook it!


[IMG]http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af340/rogerhlane/Dunnock001crop-1.jpg[/IMG]

Further crit. welcome & if you fancy it, have a go yourselves!


Roger.

Taken through the (closed!) hall window this morning.
K7, 55-300 @ 300, iso800 1/60th., f8.



[IMG]http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af340/rogerhlane/Dunnock001crop.jpg[/IMG]



C&C please.

Coker

I've been thinking about the bokeh in these images...

In both shots, the birds were in small trees, in front of, by about 3-4 metres, of a taller beech "hedge" that had lost its leaves, leaving the background of a maze of twigs behind the plane of focus.
Could it be that the spaces in between all these twigs have become small "lenses", rendering the out of focus discs visible in the images.

Or not!?

Coker.

P.S. And cropped.

Coker.