|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Reply |
I'd leave them in. I like the added bit of interest, breaking up the snow a bit, and I don't think it takes away from the subject. |
Aug 10th |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Reply |
Using the DX mode makes the subject bird bigger in the frame which gives the subject detection AF a better chance of working. I use it for birds and wildlife when I think that will be helpful. For this trip, which was a birding trip, the birds were pretty far away most of the time and the subject detection didn't work well without the DX mode.
For inanimate subjects, or ones that the subject detection doesn't exist, I wouldn't be so quick to use it.
Using a Teleconverter would also work, but you lose light using it and it was already rather dark for moving subjects most of the time on this trip since we were in thick rainforest. |
Aug 10th |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Reply |
Yes I did increase the contrast using the levels tool (pulled in both the black and white sides) and just a bit of clarity which is local contrast. I'd have left a bit more space at the bottom if it were green instead of the bright water.
Glad you're feeling better and best wishes for the surgery. |
Aug 9th |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
I really like the composition here, there's just a nice feeling of movement and flow with the gentle lines and curves going from left to right. I agree that the stream adds interest in the foreground.
This might be fun to play with in b/w- other than the blue sky there isn't a lot of "important" color, and there are wonderful shapes and textures to work with.
I do like the inclusion of the sun, particularly the rays. You might crop just a smidge off the top so that the "ball" is not as big? Also there's some weird lime green line in the lower right corner, maybe a processing artifact? being super picky here :)
Very nice landscape. |
Aug 9th |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Hi Susan,
First, I hope you're feeling much better by now- that does not sound like any fun.
Wow you sure caught a terrific action shot here. Yes the high frame rate helps, but you still have to get the shot and then choose it! Good anticipation and readiness on your part to even get it in the frame. You stopped the action well with your choice of shutter speed and the little extra depth of field helps with 2 large subjects like this.
I do like your re-work better with more contrast, yes the original was flat. I'd also crop this slightly differently, with the action more centered- the extra space on the right isn't adding much IMO.
I also really like the WSIWYG feature of the Z9 but here's a caution about it. Make sure you don't unknowingly activate the starlight mode which over-rides the WSIWYG. I did it by hitting some function button that I didn't know I'd hit nor that it would change that setting and messed up a bunch of shots till it dawned on me something was amiss... |
Aug 9th |
 |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
That's one menacing looking animal. The yellow around the eye just draws you right in. I like the diagonal orientation, so much more pleasing and fills the frame so much better than if the head were, say, horizontal. The raindrops add a lot of interest too.
Yeah, you probably don't want to be on your belly for this animal, but I do think the big of elevation helps with the composition too. You wouldn't see the rain as well or the underwater part of the head, if you were lower. |
Aug 9th |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
What a great pose and moment you caught, just love the forward wings showing all the color and patterns. The trailing leg makes the story very clear. Greenies can be so animated when they fly, they're a lot of fun.
I'll be a bit contrary and say that I really don't mind the skewering reeds- they're part of the environment and story. If they were covering the bird instead of behind it, that'd be a different story. I do agree with the bottom and right crop suggestions for this view.
I'll also suggest a rather different crop, putting the bird a bit higher in the frame and including more of the vegetation under the bird to frame the bottom. There's an attractive curve to that vegetation that might be nice to include. |
Aug 9th |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Bud this is a lovely image. It held up well to the crop, there's decent detail. I really like the composition with the tree "framing" the right and bottom edges, and the direction of the bird's gaze fits perfectly within that frame. The bird's pose in general is pleasing with the slightly side view and head turn.
My only small suggestion might be to go a bit warmer on the colors, given the hour you mentioned for the photo especially. Not that I don't like it as is, just something to try.
|
Aug 9th |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Looser crop taking advantage of the diagonal line and that lovely tail. |
Aug 9th |
 |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Certainly exciting to have a Snow Leopard in actual snow! You captured a nice pose and moment. I like the diagonal line in the original with the big fluffy tail emphasizing it. I also like the brighter white in the original, the crop does seem a bit dingy.
For me, your crop feels unbalanced, since the cat is cut off but there's a lot of "empty" space on the right. I'll offer a couple of other crops- one tight but more centered and to my eye more balanced feeling. In looking at this again, I'd maybe cut a bit more from the top. |
Aug 9th |
 |
| 67 |
Aug 24 |
Reply |
I was very close to the bird- not much more than the min focus distance, probably 15-20 feet. I looked on a DoF calculator which said I had just around 1" to play with. This bird is about the size of a Brown-headed Cowbird. Bumping up the f/stop would've helped, as would going to full frame.
I'll look at alternative crops with less green, thanks for the input! |
Aug 6th |
7 comments - 4 replies for Group 67
|
| 91 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Thanks for the crop suggestions- I do like them better! |
Aug 25th |
| 91 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
I like your placement of the catchlight, it feels natural. Could go a wee bit bigger with it I think.
If you look to the right of your dot, you'll see a lighter arc going to the right from that spot. It's not a catch light per se, but some kind of reflection. That's the kind of thing I look for and try brightening that shape some to see if it helps define the eye better. I played with it on this one and didn't come up with a result I liked. Sometimes though that technique works pretty well. |
Aug 25th |
| 91 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
A very pretty, tranquil image. I like the near identical poses of the pair, and the fact that they aren't overlapping each other. The sidelight and resulting shadows help to give them a bit of depth / 3D effect which is pleasing. I'm sure this made a lovely large framed print.
I have to mention though that as shown this isn't straight- the reflections don't line up with the birds. Needs a small counter-clockwise rotation to correct this. |
Aug 25th |
| 91 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Roseate Spoonbills are such great subjects- who doesn't love a huge bright pink bird!?
I like this frame with the wings hitting the water surface and all the spray around the bird. That beam of light made a big difference, making the splashes sparkle a bit.
Very nice. |
Aug 25th |
| 91 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Common species or not, catching this bird with the meal in its mouth and mid-stride is anything but! Nice, sharp shot that held up well to the crop. Add the pretty setting and you have a really lovely image.
I like Jerry's catchlight suggestion but since the light is soft, don't go overboard with it or it'll look funny. There's probably a very faint one that you could brighten up some and that would look better than creating one "from scratch".
|
Aug 21st |
| 91 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
First, let me say that I love your Skimmer image in the member showcase this month- it's fabulous! Congrats!
It's impressive that you could lock on to the flying osprey and get the shot, for "not being ready". It's a nice pose and wing position, and good position over the nest as well. I do agree with Jerry's crop suggestion and the reason for it. |
Aug 21st |
| 91 |
Aug 24 |
Comment |
Nice timing on this, catching the fish in a good position. Nice and sharp and good colors with the nice light. I like the original capture with the whole bird and reflection, but agree that the closer crop tells the story more effectively.
The flip was a good call on this as well.
Well done. |
Aug 21st |
7 comments - 0 replies for Group 91
|
14 comments - 4 replies Total
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