There have been similar Little Egrets in the past on play RAW. Here’s mine if anybody wants a play.
With the way the light was coming down onto it there was little variation along the back of the bird. My latest attempts at getting a bit of detail in the feathers has been to use Tone Curve. I know the argument can be “if it works for you then use it” but should I be looking at more “modern” modules? I am not looking for an artistic interpretation but if someone wants to really push it then perhaps I could see which modules are used and adjust to my taste?
darktable 5.0.1. Canon R7 with Canon RF 200-800 lens.
Tricky! I don’t think my try in GIMP shows any more detail in the feathers than yours. Whilst playing I have tried to make a little more of the reflaction and brightened the eye!
Dt 5.0.1.
Made a duplicate of a version with very high contrast in feathers on the back with an extremely steep highlights part in tone curve module.
Composited that masked onto the back of the bird only, and adjusted with opacity and feathering. Dodged and burned with masked exposure instances on tail, under the bird and on the head.
Don’t know if I gained very much compared to your own version, but it was anyhow an interesting exercise.
I like the lens. I used to use a Sigma 150-600 with adapter. I then went to a Photography Roadshow at Wetherby Racecourse and tried the 200-800 on my camera. It was then simply a matter of time before I could convince myself it was justified.
