The Buffet Line [Archive] - BirdPhotographers.net

Steve Uffman

09-14-2011, 11:40 PM

Heavy Overcast, Rain and rapidly changing Light. Birds and Bears are co dependent whether they are clamming or fishing.

Canon 5d II 500mm f/4L with TC 1.4x II
Av 1/400sec f/8 ISO 640 Ev + 1 1/3
Thinktank Hydrophobia
LR3, CS5, Nik

Rachel Hollander

09-15-2011, 06:41 AM

Steve -I like the comp and grouping. Nice to see the gull as part of the image rather than a distraction. Good behavioral image. You did well with the lighting and conditions.

TFS,
Rachel

Harshad Barve

09-15-2011, 08:03 AM

excellent behavioral image
TFS

Steve Uffman

09-15-2011, 10:45 AM

Many thanks for the feedback....It very much is appreciated.

It was nice when the gull performed. I understand they can be a distraction. My wife has a wonderful image of a bear that has been feeding on a starry flounder that clearly is stressed as it sees other "robber" bears sprinting towards it. Fairly dramatic if not for the gull....my skills are good enough with post processing to effectively eliminate it.

I also like the term "behavioral image" as well...turns out that since this is a hobby rather than vocation, its the "behavioral images" that spike my passion....now I have a nice descriptor I can use to explain what I look for in images, why I love the outdoors, travel and my more recent love of photography.

Morkel Erasmus

09-15-2011, 02:47 PM

Hey Steve

Love the low angle, the reflections off the surface and the light on them.
I do feel it needs a slight CW rotation as posted? WDYT?
:Whoa!:

Steve Uffman

09-15-2011, 03:08 PM

Thanks.....funny about the CW rotate....I actually did one version that way and it looked good...then I went back to the original because it reflected the gentle slope of the flat towards the lake.....figured I would see if I got feedback which you gave me...thanks...the vote is in, I will rotate

Interestingly, I have another image of a bear walking on the side of the beach above the flats where the slope of the beach is pretty dramatic....bear is almost- but not straight up....I have debated what to do there as well...Probably will straighten the bear because who knows besides me that the slope was dramatic, right?

Always appreciate the input as I climb the ladder.

Steve

Pieter de Waal

09-15-2011, 05:06 PM

Nice groupng Steve, love the reflections and wet fur adding to the mood of the image.

Morkel Erasmus

09-15-2011, 05:12 PM

Thanks Steve...it's a much debated issue though. If there was a natural slope it's up to you to portray it the best way you feel it needs to be portrayed. My general rule of thumb is to keep a slope 'sloped' if it can be obviously seen that it's not level ground, especially if there are 'conflicting' horizon lines in the image, such as undulating hills all sloping in various ways and directions...and otherwise to use the most 'obvious' horizon to level the image.

In this image there is really nothing that shows me that it's a slope...no straight tree in the background or such (for example). So my immediate feeling was for a rotation. :e3 In the end...it's still up to you :w3

Brendan Dozier

09-15-2011, 11:22 PM

Love the composition, Steve, the seagull adds a bit of comedy to the scene. Nice low angle, love the intent poses and reflections.

Mark Wiseman

09-16-2011, 08:51 AM

This is a wonderful image Steve, however I agree with Morkel. I would have levelled the bears first and then cropped accordingly. I feel the image will look vastly different to the one you have posted with that image rotation completed. Keep up the good work and well done.:5:bg3:

Arthur Morris

09-16-2011, 04:04 PM

I like the high key look and the good job that you did with the EXP. Two out of three good head angles is not bad...

Where?

Steve Uffman

09-17-2011, 11:34 AM

I like the high key look and the good job that you did with the EXP. Two out of three good head angles is not bad...

Where?

sorry for late response as I was out of town....we were at the Alaska Homestead Lodge, Silver Salmon Creek AK.....and thanks so much for the feedback...funny I thought about the HA, but whatever the bird was pulling-kept pulling back....:bg3:

Arthur Morris

09-17-2011, 02:12 PM

Thanks Steve. Been there. Great place but I like the bear boat in Katmai a bit better :)