|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 21 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Wow this is pretty amazing. I like that you went with a tight crop here to really show the struggle. I also really like that you left a bit of the body on the right side to "anchor" the image instead of just the floating neck and head!
|
Sep 15th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 21
|
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Reply |
Congratulations on the win! Well deserved. |
Sep 13th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Reply |
And I rarely do any planning, at least not more than a few minutes before setting up the shot. Something I need to give some due consideration. |
Sep 12th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
So cropping it seemed the best result, along with brushing in some highlight reduction at what's left of the top. I tried the vignette, but it didn't really need to be darkened on the other edges and I didn't like the result. |
Sep 12th |
 |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Your choice to do the b/w conversion works here- there really isn't much pop to the color in the original scene but there are nice shapes and textures.
I tried my hand at a conversion going a bit brighter in the foreground. I didn't get quite the full tonal range. But one thing I noticed was that the big white cloud in the middle added a nice compositional element- sort of making a triangle with the 2 white peak formations. So while I like your crop to a pano, I left the original framing because of that one element. |
Sep 12th |
 |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Your narrative serves to illustrate how useful it is to understand your subject's behaviors, as well as careful attention to light and other elements. It's also nice that the location allowed you the choice of your position to optimize things.
I probably wouldn't have thought about the size of the stick as an important element to watch for, but it really does add tremendously especially with the story-telling aspect. The light angle illuminating the belly is important as well.
I'd also like just a wee bit more space all around but obviously that's a matter of taste.
Congrats on the medal. |
Sep 12th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Definitely a favorite photo subject in that region, they are so colorful. Too bad they don't end up in Kansas when they click those ruby red slippers...
I like the coy pose of the bird and the soft green background. My taste tends to a looser composition with more space around the subject, especially when that space isn't full of distractions. I'd do something along this line in a vertical format to accentuate the bird's pose. |
Sep 12th |
 |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Wow this is pretty cool, having the bird coming right at you like this. I really like the blur of the wings, not only does it convey movement but the shape created is quite pleasing as well.
Regarding the branch on the left, is there any possibility to try this with a vertical crop that would remove it? I'm thinking with the straight-on action and relatively symmetrical pose, that might be appealing.
Getting a sharp image of a bird taking off does take some luck and timing. I guess the "pro capture" type features help with timing but I'm not sure about keeping focus. The newer generation of mirrorless cameras do seem to be faster with the focus and help with this so maybe in the future this will be "easier" haha. I've managed a few good takeoff shots with my Z8, but with birds going to the side not straight at me. |
Sep 12th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Reply |
This is almost exactly the alternate crop I had in mind! |
Sep 12th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Reply |
Oh I hadn't thought of that V word- good idea! Thanks for the inputs. |
Sep 10th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
You chose a good angle to approach this from, giving a good view of the bird and a nice background. How thoughtful of the bird to stay put for you! Normally I prefer natural perches but there's a great story-telling aspect to this perched on the feeder, since these guys are well known to stalk feeders for their own lunch. The fact that the stand has a nice bird on it is a plus.
I noted Larry's comment about the rain drops, and looked more closely at them in the original vs the posted image. In the original they're rain streaks, but somehow in the cropped version all that's there is bright dots. I actually like the streaks- but have to agree that the bright dots don't really add. Did somehow the crop and darkening the background bring out the smaller dots? |
Sep 10th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
So my first comment is to tell you that this image inspired me this morning to photograph some carpenter bees that were buzzing around creosote bushes and blooms. I'd have overlooked it without this inspiration in mind.
I love the simplicity of this image, the soft colors and light. The motion of the bee's wings add, sort of like the propellers on an airplane, to the idea that it's moving. The DoF let you get both the bee and the plant sharp- something that I missed in some of my efforts this morning.
I like this simple composition as you've chosen it. I also see other options in your original to include more of the plant- it would make it less about the bee and more about the scene though.
|
Sep 10th |
| 67 |
Sep 23 |
Reply |
Hi Dave,
I guess I wasn't very clear in my description, this was taken mid-afternoon. It's just that the dense forest was quite dark, but as you can see from the sky it was dappled. The bit of contrast enhancement I did made the bright sky stand out even more. Would you just take a brush with a slight minus exposure adjustment to that area? When I've tried highlight reduction on something like that it can get a little weird looking. I'll play with it a little too. Thanks for your feedback! |
Sep 8th |
7 comments - 5 replies for Group 67
|
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Reply |
I like this crop as it minimizes the distractions and emphasizes the pose of the chicks. |
Sep 17th |
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
You really captured the decisive moment here with the pose between the 2 chicks. Very cute! The exposure looks good on all that white, there's good detail.
I will agree with the comments already made about the depth of field and cropping this to a more vertical format, maybe in a 4x5 aspect ratio. Especially, crop that right side to eliminate most of the vertical bright stripes that really pull your eye over away from the chicks.
Looks like a fun trip! |
Sep 15th |
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
First, you caught a nice moment of action with a good wing position and all the water drops above the back. The action isn't completely frozen which helps to imply motion.
Flipping this was a good choice from a composition perspective, as the eye is now led in by the back of the bird and goes right to the eye.
I personally love the dark background, the high contrast adds drama and helps with the mood and story.
Good work! |
Sep 15th |
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Reply |
I didn't take a flash with me on the trip. But I probably wouldn't have used it anyway because detail wasn't the intent for this image with the backlight. |
Sep 13th |
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Inca Terns are, IMO, one of the prettiest tern species anywhere. You're lucky to have the opportunity for nice shots of them. At least that bright red bill stands out against the body, which for me makes the head position ok. I do like all the scattered feathers, must've been breezy.
Looks like it was a tad overexposed- the whites have lost some detail. I might tone it down even a bit more from what you've done.
Getting the bird out of the corner or edge of the frame is the bane of bird in flight! Your crop is appropriate for the pose and that tight left edge. You could extend the canvas and give it a bit more all around space if you chose to.
|
Sep 8th |
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Yes wow. I love the wing position, so graceful looking, and not obscuring the head of the bird.
What I really like though is catching the V of the mountain in just the right spot in the background. It sets this apart from a plain sky background image, gives it a little more character and interest.
Lovely job on the post processing too. |
Sep 8th |
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
You have a nice setup with that pretty green background. The color is a nice complement for the subject.
I was going to suggest moving the feeder to a sunnier spot to get light and color in the gorget, but then it would be more contrasty and not have this soft color quality. When photographing hummers, I try to watch for when they are at an angle such that they have good color in the gorget and snap my pictures then. Easier said than done though.
I know you cropped like this due to the feeder, but I generally prefer framing such that the bird is higher, and more space below than above it. In this case I'd just clone out the bit of the feeder that remains after my preferred crop, since the background is so smooth and uniform.
Overall though a pretty image. |
Sep 8th |
| 91 |
Sep 23 |
Comment |
Thanks Steve and Bruce for your inputs. My intent here was a high contrast, backlit image. I guess the sun angle was too high though and I didn't get any light coming through the wings that would've helped with the detail. I've made another version, bringing out a bit more detail, but trying to preserve the high contrast look. |
Sep 8th |
 |
6 comments - 2 replies for Group 91
|
14 comments - 7 replies Total
|
