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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Reply |
Thanks David, I have another series of the behavior where the bird was much closer and the perch not as attractive that I cropped tighter. Not quite the same angle on the pose, I know. |
May 13th |
 |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Comment |
I too really like the near-perfect reflection, and the diagonal of the log that the heron is standing on is a great "perch".
I would try Topaz AI Sharpen on the bird itself and see if you can get it a bit crisper.
You could minimize the impact of the other big log with a crop. I'd try cropping from the left to about the point that the thin branch above the log enters the water- roughly half the big log. Then a bit off the top just for balance. It's hard to avoid some of those elements when shooting- the birds just don't stay put, or there isn't another vantage point, etc. |
May 12th |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Comment |
I really like your capture of the breeding plumes and those lime-green lores. The bird's nicely posed in an attractive tree.
I like the overall brightness and colors of your edits. But in terms of gaining detail in the bird, I think it went backwards. Overall the birds' lacking contrast and there's a strange white haze in the plumes. Given that the ISO is only 160 there really wasn't any noise in the original- I don't use LR so not sure what the advantage to using that tool in LR could be for this image, I use Topaz Denoise and would not have bothered with it for this shot.
I downloaded the original and did just a bit with it in my Capture One program. Basically reduced highlights, added structure, and a small brightness increase. |
May 9th |
 |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Comment |
What a cool experience to have an owl this close, and with great behavior to boot! Good that you were able to back up without spooking it, because getting the whole bird in the frame really makes the shot. Yes a smidge more room right and bottom would be nice but...
I do like the dark tone to the image, it seems quite fitting for this habitat and species. Maybe it's just me but I'm seeing a slight greenish cast, especially in the railing, that I'd try to correct for.
I too would love to see more from this sequence, including the upchuck!
|
May 9th |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Comment |
Experience, and listening to your gut, pays off. I'm glad we don't have these guys to be concerned with around here.
Having just the head visible, while covered in the vegetation, really tells the story. I like the way you framed this, it does give more of a sensation of how close it is. Framing at the edges helps to create a sense of unease, which is important to the story.
It looks to me like the focus point is just in front of the eye. While having the closest thing sharp is good, it would be nice if the eye were also crisp, i.e. slightly more DoF - if you'd had the luxury of more time with the subject! |
May 9th |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Comment |
You really captured a lovely display pose, and did a good job of not blowing out the white plumes. It's ok in my opinion for the vegetation to be a bit dark, if that's what it takes to get the detail in the white subject. Given your original capture, I like the way you cropped the image.
I too would love to see more space at the bottom, whether the bird was visible or it was vegetation under what's visible of the bird. There is a lot to think about when photographing birds, between all the technical bits and composition. It does get easier with practice and experience, things become more automatic and reactions become quicker :)
|
May 9th |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Comment |
Really nice capture of the bird with its prey. I like the pose you selected to process, with the bird looking toward us and the dragonfly prominent. Your processing looks natural.
My only suggestion is to crop this a bit more from the right, to more of a square format. I just don't find that the extra space is helpful particularly since it's "busy" with light and dark areas.
Congrats on conquering the rickety tower- I've climbed a few of those and been almost too scared to take any pictures from them! |
May 9th |
| 67 |
May 23 |
Reply |
Hi Michael, that makes more sense! I tried your suggestion. I rather like both versions. |
May 5th |
 |
6 comments - 2 replies for Group 67
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6 comments - 2 replies Total
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