Saving an underexposed Mountain White-eye

[Romy Ocon]

I tried again some montane birding last weekend, to change avian flavors a bit from water birds. This bird is quite tiny, with a total length of only about 4.25 inches, and it's a very active customer. I erred in my manual exposure and the subject was gone before I could correct. I had to push the image by +2 stops during RAW conversion.

Mountain White-eye (Zosterops montanus)

Shooting info - Elev. 1430 m ASL, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, March 20, 2016, Canon 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/500 sec, manual exposure in available light (pushed +2 stops during RAW conversion), hand held, major crop resized to 1280x720.





And here's the unedited (just resized) full frame at original exposure settings.

[Bobby Kintanar]

Excellent technique Ka Mastah. I find that 7D2 files actually are more forgiving than my 60D files, so I guess this is one prime example of the 7D2's actual RAW (and even JPEG) file processing latitude.

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Bobby! Yup, the 7D II's file has no banding in the shadows even when aggressively pushed.

[Tateo Osawa]

Great work from original shot, you made colorful beautiful photo!!

[Romy Ocon]

Thank you, Tateo-san!

By the way, I started drinking the sake last Holy Week with my son.... love the smooth, fermented taste.

[William Lim]

Still an excellent photo!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Doc William!

[Godfrey "Godo" Jakosalem]

Nicely done! That's how the magic works.

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Godo!