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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Hi Barbara
I'm really glad you understand the light behind the trees is from the setting sun. Some think I added it. I did tone down the trees, but after all the comments I'll pull them down some more. Like you, any chance to photograph the MW and I'm ready to give it a go. My favorite subject.
Thanks for commenting. |
Dec 18th |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
This seems to be the month for surreal images and this one is a beauty. I always admire those who do things with light and then push the limits of the camera to create something different. The display of the so-called "God Beams" that create a different appearance and mood to the image work quite well. I do have several suggestions. First the image feel to me as it it is being squeezed into the frame. The little house in the lower right corner feels like a last minute inclusion. I would also prefer a bit more space at the bottom and the building on the left bottom third feel a bit crowded as well.
Finally, as Arne noted that burned out area along the top edge is quite distracting. I can live with the crowded framing but the burned out section at the top is a game breaker. You asked about a crop to remedy this and after studying the image I do not see a perfect choice so my sample crop below is a poor substitute although it does solve the burnout at the top and the crowded house in the lower right. |
Dec 16th |
 |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
Arne when you put i n the time to really edit an image the results are always stunning. This time you got an assist from the unique architecture but your unique interpretation really is what makes this work. Since the building is itself surreal the ultra white edge of the building just seems to belong. I'm also glad you did not take this shot straight on as this view seems to makethe3 building telescope out of the background. While I have never used a tilt-shift lens I always marvel at they it can do in the hands of someone who known hot to use it. This is a fine art type of presentation, but it works quite well. |
Dec 16th |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
I actually thought this looked like a horse tail before I read the title and your description. So your capture showed the reality of the falls. I think the shutter speed choice was perfect to produce the desired effect. I like the strong foreground created by the rocks as their seems to be a continuous curved line from the rocks, to the reflection and ending with the falls itself. I always have trouble photographing this type of falls that end at the top of a cliff and than have a bright, distracting sky attached to the top. I've submitted several of these and group members never fail to note the distraction of the sky at the top. The choices seem to be to crop off the very top of the falls or leave the sky to distract. Solving this mystery is my only suggestion, I wish you better luck than I have experienced. |
Dec 15th |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
My eye starts out from the left with the caged rail span. But for me this is where it ends. I've been considering this for several days and finally concluded that the actual bridge (the part over the water) just does not look like a bridge. I believe it is the angle of the camera that leaves the rest of the bridge looking decidedly unbridge like. The spans seem to be pushed together and and lose their recognition. For me the bridge seems to run into the background making it feel like a bridge to no where. I think the old brick could be quite engaging if captured from a better angle. I think you did well to find and interesting materialistic bridge it just needs some separation. Please note this is just my opinion, and I've been known to be wrong. |
Dec 15th |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Hi Arne
This was a really strange night. I've never tried shooting the at this time of year at a location where the earth is so flat before. The MW rose early, at just about the time that the sun was setting. I'm convinced that the elevated ISO what allowed the camera sensor to gather in the little light that remained with the 13 second exposure changed everything. It the horizon was not so terribly flat that last light of the sun would have been blocked and the foreground would have been in shadow. The Gulf of Mexico is right behind the last of those trees. I do really like your idea of desaturating the trees, I just tried to dim them but I think your idea is better. |
Dec 10th |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Thanks Michael
I agree the clouds help but I think the big plus was the time of year. The Milky Way was rising early in the night and the sunset was happening at about the same time That provided some strange happenings all at the same time. I've never seen the night quite like it was on this occasion. The high ISO allowed the camera sensor to gather in all the light, even what was really dim.
Thanks for commenting. |
Dec 10th |
| 36 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Hi Adi
Thanks for the comment about the trees. I actually toned down the line on the left. The sun on the right was setting and there was light coming from the sun the hit those trees.
I think the problem was two fold. The ISO of 1600 that was allowing the camera sensor to suck up the little light that was there due to the 13 second exposure. But I can tone them down some more.
As for a tour of the Everglades. If you get down here to south Florida first bring bug repellant with a high percentage of Deet Bugs can be the size of small planes. If you have a Thermacell unit that works great. I will be most honored top take you on a photoshop in the Everglades. I'm an experienced guide. So far, none of my tour members have been eaten by either Alligators or Crocs. |
Dec 10th |
4 comments - 4 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Bud
Thanks for commenting. The background blur in this is is created by using the f5.6 aperture. I am well aware of the various new tools available for blurring backgrounds but currently PSA say they cannot be used. Nature along with Photojournalism and Photo Travel are considered to be realistic categories and as such editing is limited. You cannot change reality---this nothing can be removed other than by cropping. You can blur with a lens because that is the property of a lens. You cannot change color or over saturate. There are a host of other limitations so I suggest that you look at the Nature category page and read them all. Judges are pretty good at spotting those who try to break the rules, but they also reserve the right to request the photographer submit the RAW file before an award is given if they have a question. I know of several times where this has been requested and awards withheld. |
Dec 24th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
Hi David
That wing is NOT the owl's wing. It is from the bird that the owl killed. He is in the process of eating that wing.
|
Dec 19th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Hi Cindy
There are quite a group of burrows at this site. About half are active right now. This gives me lots of choices (usually). I have not seen these guys eat other birds very often and this is the first time I've seen one with a entire bird. They are true scavengers and opportunists. I saw one with a fish and have no idea where he got it from. I have noticed that when they get mice, lizards frogs and toads that they bury them near their nest and let them rot for a few days. Then dig them up to eat. Some of them look pretty nasty when dug up. But I guess I'm not really up to date on the best ways of preparing frog and toad. |
Dec 12th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Thanks Michael
Hoping to get some shot of the little ones this spring. Tghe mortality rate is high for the kids. Snakes, hawks and last year eagles exacted a high toll. |
Dec 12th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Nice work Cindy
Looks like you are a Photoshop Wizard!! Well Done! |
Dec 12th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
This is one location whee one can just about point their camera in any direction and come up with some thing amazing. As Frank mentions the slot has classic drama, but the rock walls with their colors and patterns do provide lots of opportunities for abstracts. As for the soft or sharp approach, that is entirely a maker's choice since you are creating abstracts and there is no right or wrong with those. |
Dec 11th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
The real impact here is the focus of the lion on his prey. The eyes are the whole story. Since you have done so much cropping why not crop some more from the bottom and eliminate that black spot in the center at the bottom.
This would be a truly amazing image if you could have captured this with some space in front of the vulture for it to move into. You could fix this for your own use in Photoshop by increasing the canvas and adding the necessary landscape, it is really easy. The only problem would be that it would no long qualify as a nature image.
|
Dec 11th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
These cypress forest that exist deep inn the swamps can be such deep, dark and mysterious places. Your image brings a different, almost cheery, feel to the swamp with the color reflected in the water and the red/pink flowers. I also like the feeling of infinite depth that makes me feel it just goes on forever. |
Dec 11th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
It seems like just about everyone has a butterfly preserve available for shooting. As noted the bothersome thing is the DOF issue. To me it just seems off if a wing ,or in this case an antennae is out of focus. So it would seem the issue is a camera setting one.
I do not mind the mass of pink flowers as they contribute to the story. At the same time I think Frank's crop is too tight and makes the photo a image of record more than a nature story. |
Dec 11th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
One of the things I enjoy most about African wildlife images is the vastness of it all. There is one exception however. With this in mind I like the crops that show the entire scene so that as a viewer I can just take it all in. The exception I mentioned is that if you can get close to the "action" than the incident itself can have the necessary impact. So for me, with what you have captured the crop by Richard is my choice. In this case the croc attack almost seems like it does not belong. The only thing that really bothers me that the i9mage seems to have a "plastic" shine or feel to it. I have no idea what is causing it. |
Dec 11th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Comment |
You certainly made good use of the miserable weather. The vulture is well separated from the background and the hint of a red head identifies the species for sure. As the others have noticed the processing has produced a halo but you can simply back off the processing and eliminate that easily. |
Dec 11th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
This colony is about an hour away and has about 20 burrows. These guys are so small and the dig their burrows usually in thick foliage. It is darn near impossible to get them on the ground and also get background separation. Most of the time the foliage is just inches from where they stand. Sometimes conservationist put of signs on posts warning people to stay away and the owls are nice enough to pose standing on the post. Unfortunately the post is square wood, or made of metal and I can't use it for nature images. I'll just stick to laying under my cover sheet. |
Dec 8th |
| 67 |
Dec 22 |
Reply |
Just to set the record straight this little guy ripped the wing off its prey and ate it feathers and all. He ate every scrap of the bird, beak, feet, everything.
You are right, I visit the location often and have pictures of everything these guys do. So me of them seem to like me, the hawks don't bother them when I'm around. Finally I'm good for something.
Thanks for commenting, I appreciate your interest. |
Dec 8th |
7 comments - 6 replies for Group 67
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11 comments - 10 replies Total
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