|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks for commenting. I liked the original image also. But there were just to many obstacles (trees, light poles, building walls) to get the composition I wanted. this was my best option and there just was not enough space to do justice to the flagpoles. I thought about using AI technology to add space but I refuse to do that sort of thing. I'd rather live with my flaws than let a computer create my image. Guess I'm just too old fashioned. |
Apr 22nd |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Michael
Images like this (which I do not often do) make me wish I had a tilt shift lens. I did play around with the perspective tool in Photoshop but between the horizontals on the various floors of the building and the vertical on the right edge, I just gave up. I'll have to turn in my union card if this keeps up.
You are right of course. |
Apr 22nd |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
I agree the bushes are a distraction. But cropping them from the right really messed up the image and cropping up from the bottom cuts into Lafayette. So I left them alone. Anywhere i moved just brought in more junk and caused more problems. Like I said, it is not an award winner, just something different.
Guess I could have replaced all the windows on the right. |
Apr 18th |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
I normally do not like snow that is not white but in this case i feel the reflected sky on the snow adds something to the image. here I like the leading line formed by the pathway and the fact that the building's color sort of picks up the tones of the sky. The place does feel isolated.
Hey, I got to ask, where did you find that power pole with the double bend in it? It realy looks strange. |
Apr 17th |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
I feel you have a nice peaceful scene but for me the geese are just overpowering. They are white and bright and there are so many that they draw all the attention, and that is saying a lot because of the person wearing a red jacket. Usually red captured the attention. There just seems to be too much clutter throughout the image, it is everywhere. There is the white cars on the left along with the half visible metal structure in the upper left corner. There there are all the white geese. Makes me think the geese should be the subject. The foreground on the right has those reflections of the people that add to the clutter. I think you might consider deciding exactly what you want the subject to be and then create a composition that clearly makes your selected subject the star of the show and everything else should either be eliminated or in some way be diminished so that the subject dominates. |
Apr 17th |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
I agreed that the monochrome looks gone used for the image as it brings out a stark feeling. Still the precision of a Military cemetery does look good in color. Kind of a maker's choice. At least for me I feel you should hav taken another step to the left so there would be some space for that flag pole. Pinned so close to the left edge it sort of looks like a mistake. I also would be happier if the tree on the right were not included. The massive trunk becomes overpowering. Did you think about using a lower camera position? |
Apr 17th |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
The fact that you converted this to monochrome is what I like the most about it. The monochrome reveals reveals the texture and structure of the image and it is this that makes it interesting. I especially like the detail in the dune. |
Apr 17th |
| 36 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
Unusual find but certainly it is something interesting. I like that the colors aren't bold. The whole image takes on a feeling of an old photograph. In fact it might be even better if done in sepia. |
Apr 17th |
5 comments - 3 replies for Group 36
|
| 59 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
To heck with the ball. This story is quite clear. |
Apr 15th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 59
|
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Cindy. Always said, I'd rather be lucky than good. |
Apr 25th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Hi Adrian. Maybe great minds (Isasc and mine?) just think a like. Isaac and I have been friends for years. Just the luck of the Gator gods. Thanks for looking and I'm glad you like this. He was shaking the catch all around and I do have a sort of side view but I think this "in your face" view is more dramatic and a bit frightening. |
Apr 25th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
I keep saying the beauty of monochrome is that with the co9lor stripped away the structure, texture and shapes and form of the subject stand out. Here the contrast really stands out. I think Butch's flip was genius as it creates a flow to the image that is comfortable to view. Shown without the flip the branch feels like it is trying to confrontational
It took a good eye to find this subject. |
Apr 17th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Just so you know. If I'm going birding, I start with the en if a want to shoot a perched bird I'll make the adjustment. |
Apr 15th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
I always get out of the car, mount camera to support, then adjust settings (all three) then check to be sure memory card is formatted and the battery is full charged. Finally, I take a practice shot. I don't use Steve Perry's preloaded settings. Mostly because I'm OLD and my habits are firmly set. I work a lot by muscle memory.
BTW, below is a MattK video on getting rid of halos. This is short and sweet and is tailor made for your eagle problem and cleaning out the sky from between feathers. |
Apr 15th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
Thanks Butch for putting the pressure on. v :-)
About settings. Big birds do not flap wings as fast as little birds. That said I'll take the fastest shutter speed I can get but 1/2000 is enough for big guys like eagles. I'm a huge fan of a tripod or a monopod I leave the car with camera already attached to the support. If in a hurry a tripod can be a monopod, just don't open the legs. My best shots come when I'm not hand holding and panning is sooooo much easier. Unless I'm dealing with multiple birds in the frame aperture of f8 is usually enough. A lot of the time, if the lens is at infinity the fstop really doesn't matter. I have good results a f4. I spend most of my day using auto ISO and I get good shots at ISO 2500 (focus and shutter speed are more important). I was shooting flying duck (fast little buggers) and using my dynamic group 9 setting but I really try to keep my focal point on the birds head. |
Apr 15th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Michael. These are the moments that makes getting up at dark - thirty, driving to special locations, and swatting mosquitoes all worthwhile. |
Apr 15th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Butch. This is what getting that moment is all about. You don't always get it, but if you get 2-3 special moments like this is a year--it makes the whole year.
Appreciate your comment. |
Apr 15th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks very much Bruce. I fully agree that it is the eye and the teeth. There was a lot of splashing and thrashing going on and some of the images either did not show the eye or the teeth. Sometimes you just need some luck. I'll also be at the Alligator Farm later this month. I'll be the guy in the white Tilly hat.:-). I appreciate you commenting. |
Apr 15th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Ted. I appreciate you dropping by to comment. |
Apr 15th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
Michael
This is a really tough image to edit to obtain the corrections you require. I put this into Lightroom and the used the masking tool using a combination of selections with the brush (various sizes), radial, linear and object selections. You have to work on each area throughout the image and fit a mask to the specific area you want to adjust. In different areas I used vibrance, exposure, highlight, shadows and even some sharpening I spent about a half hour but I could easily work on this for several hours. I think the image is worth the effort if have have the time and patience. k Make lots of vitural copies as you work so if you mess up you can go back. Note that most of the right side background is in natural shadow and will never be as bold as the left side highlighted area. |
Apr 5th |
 |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
I do like the interaction between the birds as shown by slightly raised leg of the bird on the right. Sadly small birds live in a naturally busy environment and in this case not only is it busy but the birds blend quite well. Part of that is due to the bird on the right being shrouded in shadow. If this were my image I would use a Lightroom mask to select the bird on the right. Then I would intersect that mask with a vertical linear gradient starting o n the left of the bird, then "slightly' increase the exposure and the whites. this will make the front (belly) half of the bird still a bit dark but it would brighten the right side of the bird that is just get ing a little bit of light. Iy would have the overall effect of making the bird brighter and help it to stand out a bit more. |
Apr 5th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
Well, for a perfect pose I wish you had told your subject to cross those front paws and thus be a more proper lady. You could also have put a catch light in those eyes to complete the portrait. OK, now to be serious. This is a strong portrait of a young leopard. The tree makes a wonderful natural frame. The composition is nicely balanced from left to right. As you note it is not an exciting image, but it is certainly an exciting memory and an excellent shot to have in your portfolio. It does have strong impact based on those mesmerizing eyes. I have never been a fan large areas of blank sky as it is bright and thus detracts from the subject. On that basis I would crop a bit of sky from the top. You can't crop a lot without crowding the cat, but then, even a little bit helps. |
Apr 5th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
This is an interesting image that has left me with lots of questions. First it is a fine image of a large predator on the hunt. Technically the image is quite sound. I think the shadow is absolutely necessary to outline the cat and help to separate it from the background. Without that shadow on the right the cat would simply vanish. Plus as we noted last month shadows can be and are necessary. My issue is with the size of the cat in the final image. The cat is a strong subject but in viewing the image he seems diminished. Part of the problem is that the cat naturally blends in. I've toyed with cropping off the green at the bottom to increase the size of the cat, both I think the green works with the composition. Luckily it is your image and you have to figure out what to include. It is a fine image that I am certain you will remember for a long time. |
Apr 5th |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Isaac. Being here at the right moment makes up for all those moments when I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time. But this certainly gets the adrenaline flowing. |
Apr 3rd |
| 67 |
Apr 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Stephen for dropping by. Moments like this are what makes photographing nature to satisfying. These moments you remember for a very long time. |
Apr 3rd |
6 comments - 10 replies for Group 67
|
| 72 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
Neat! This beats my gator and bird by a mile! The look on the face of the wolf is priceless. I feel those yellow eyes that are fixed on the raven bring out the hunter/killer nature of the wolf. Additionally having those from paws raised like he is about to leap adds an extra layer of drama. Little details like that elevate the quality of an image. When shooting animals like this I think the photographer has to show the viewer what the viewer EXPECTS to see. This IS the wolf I learned about as a child in fairy tales. He brings back memories. That sets this image apart. |
Apr 15th |
| 72 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
I loike the fact that you have a clear view of the action, no annoying twigs and branches in the way. Great reflexes to get this. Your yellow bird foot is much more graphic than the black one I captured. |
Apr 3rd |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 72
|
| 91 |
Apr 25 |
Comment |
The perfect background for this colorful little heron. I also would suggest cropping a bit from the right as it will give the illusion of having more space on the right. For the record, I really like the claw like appearance of the branch he is clinging to. It matches his talons nicely. |
Apr 15th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 91
|
15 comments - 13 replies Total
|
