Help with exposure!

[polly470]

I took this photo last week, really bright sunlight and lots of white feathers - I don't have photoshop yet, so am trying to do everything either in camera, or on good old Picassa 3...any advice as to how to get a better effect on feathers?
Thanks,
Pauline

[jerryph]

Yes... I do not know what kind of camera you have or if this is possible, but playing with the exposure compensation on most dSLR cameras is what you want to be doing.

You want to set the exposure compensation to LIGHTLY darken the pic and bring out a little more detail in the feathers. A setting between -.5 to -1 is an educated guess.

Next I would increase contrast a little to bring out that details some more.

[polly470]

Thank you for that! I have a Nikon D80, and I have already started to re-read the manual...I get so enthusiastic about the shapes I forget to alter the settings and I completely forgot about the exposure compensation...
many thanks again,
Pauline

[julimucca]

I took this photo last week, really bright sunlight and lots of white feathers - I don't have photoshop yet, so am trying to do everything either in camera, or on good old Picassa 3...any advice as to how to get a better effect on feathers?
Thanks,
Pauline

Photoscape has a lot of fun filters, and effects to use, and you can download it for free on line. I use picasa and photoscape mostly for my pictures, and do not have photoshop yet either. Beautiful shot though!

[polly470]

Thank you - both for the compliment and advice - I am straight onto the download now...!
all the best,
Pauline

[StephenK]

This is a very nice photo Pauline!!

I've been very impressed with many of the photos that have been
added to this section for edits! This one's a gem!! :)