Odd effect

[Barbarian]

I was in a wooded area, under some big trees when these two really big crows landed in the canopy far above.   It was very dark under the trees, and all I had was an 18-55 zoom, but I put exposure on manual and took the shot.

When I looked at it, the light from behind the canopy had completely blown out the background, and left this odd watercolor-like effect.

There was no manipulation of the image at all, except for cropping and an adjustment in levels for contrast.

Interesting.

[ohenry]

Wow...looks as if the autofocusing was off some and the bright lights added some odd effect to the sensor maybe???

[Barbarian]

I really don't know.   I generally don't like such images, but this one, I like.

I might experiment a bit with it.

[JudyB]

I am sorry I missed this one.

Yes it does give a watercolor effect.  I am with you though, I do like it.    I wonder what it would have been like with a more powerful zoom?    I do like this though.

[Marilyn]

I like the effect on this one, It does look like a painting but it looks great to me.

[Andy_Sorensen]

Your camera's digital sensor was blown out by the extreme contrast.  I've seen this effect before with a blue fringe which often occurs on even lower quality sensors, but a digital sensor is only capable of handling so much.  Our sensors today have less exposure latitude than even slide film so such effects can be expected where you have such extreme exposures.  Those who have shot slide film and recognize these limitations with digital exposures have a significant advantage over those who have not.

That said, it does make for an interesting photo. 

[Al Moak]

What would very slightly less exposure time have done to this?

[Andy_Sorensen]

What would very slightly less exposure time have done to this?

The crows are so dark and with them being in the shade and backlit with such a strong light, underexposing wouldn't likely help.   Good idea though.  Approaching such problems with varied exposures sometimes does solve them.  After all, digital images are cheap enough.   

[Barbarian]

I started out in 35mm photography with a Nikkormat and Kodachrome 25.  But I never had this happen to me before.   In a Kodachrome slide with areas blown out, the other areas look normal, if a bit lower in contrast. 

But not like this.

[Andy_Sorensen]

There may also be something called 'chromatic aberration' going on here.  This is largely an lens issue, but I still believe this has more to do with the sensor.  What camera was this and make of lens?