The following set of images are "as shot" from the top of Stone Mountain, outside of Atlanta, Ga, USA. The weather was rainy, darkish, windy, total cloud cover. These images were shot with a higher ISO than I would like and when blown up, I see a "ring of white" around the edge of the bird. Anyone know about this ring of white and how to correct it before taking the image? As for the birds, these are black vulures. They apparently find the winds wonderful and soar, soar, soar over the height of the granite mound of Stone Mountain. I send these up "as shot" with only crop corrections in case anyone has advice on this kind of shooting in adverse conditions of lighting and of moving things. General info for most of these images: ISO 320, JPG 3008x2000, 1/500sec, f5.6, 187mm(my longest reach!)digital equivalent. Anyway, here tis! TomDart.

Note the wings! Only when even with or above the bird do we see the arch of the wings, with the bird suspended below. I have seen this in hawks flying below me while in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia, not before in vultures.

another one, same vulture as previous without crop.

Message edited on: 05/01/2005 20:50

the last one

good shot ; i just do not know my birds

No advise from me, sorry. Would the white ring, be light hightlights? I know it was cloudy, but could be it. I love Stone Mountain by the way. I want to get back over there and shoot again. Love the Laser show at night.

You don't have to "know your birds" to get good images! I know the birds better than getting good shots. I do like the view from "on even turf" with the vulture. That is not seen from the ground looking up view. As for Stone Mountain, I would give a lot to get right back there on a nice sunny day! Then, put on the hiking boots and tramp around. There is much to photograph and see of unusual views and unseen scenes. The train ride around left me happy but frustrated that I was not on the granite taking very neat images of the sparce but intriguing "granite and a plant here and there" stuff. All sorts of views could yield many good photos. Yes, it is a neat place for fun(i.e. the laser show!!) and offers a lot for photographers when they get off the beaten tourists trails. I need more mm for some shots, like the birds roosting on the monument carving..tripod essential for that. OH>>>the white could be highlights. I will have to look at other shots to see. Thanks, Tom.

I only see the white halo on the lower side of the left wing in the second pic.

What it might be is an artifact of the sharpening process in your camera. Try turning it off and see what happens.

If it's not that, I don't know what it is.

Message edited on: 05/02/2005 01:14

great pics, Tom! i'm just enjoying the pictures, if that's ok. i've looked for white rings and don't see 'em. my eyes aren't so good though...exhausted. but i do enjoy these pics, especially #3 & #4. sorry i can't offer you any help. i just don't see it. :(

I'll have to agree with Erlik. Sharpening artifacts. To simulate this try an extreme unsharp mask setting.

I did not use any camera sharpening...yet this does appear on original images, as shown. This is likely some "digital thing" with perhaps contrasts affecting it? Then again, this "halo" does not appear on other images taken with more varied backgrounds. Who knows, maybe it is atmospheric.. The little junk food beast shown here is in high cotton. A vulture of sorts I suppose. Thanks for all the input on this. Much is helpful but still a question lingers about the halo. Possibly the zoom of the original image and crop enhanced some digital artifact.