A frustrating time shooting skimmers yesterday. walked 15 mins south when I should have gone 15 mins north. Trouble locking focus on the 1/2 dozen to dozen who gave occasional fly-bys. Next time will go north to the hundreds nesting that i realized too late.
Anyway I turned into the sun and saw this beautiful smooth water with the setting sun creating great colors. No eye catchlights, center framed but even with those nits still one of my preferred shots from the outing.
I would be very happy to have made this image! Ethereal, great use of backlighting, colors are amazing, sharp where it counts. I might rotate CC a few degrees. Excellent work IMO:)
05-24-2010, 03:19 PM
Jim Fenton
Definitely different and I like the perspective.
Rotation on this one is tough because if the bird is made to look perfectly level, the rotation of the waters surface will be further exaggerated down to the left.
I might crop 20% from the bottom and give it some more room on the sides.
05-24-2010, 03:59 PM
Gerald Kelberg
I really like the graphic simplicity of this image - the silhouette against the colour and the light catching the spray really takes it away for me. Well worth the frustrating day to get this shot.
Gerald
05-24-2010, 04:08 PM
Michael Wolf
Beautifully captured! I think this image works perfect as is.
05-24-2010, 04:20 PM
Danny Laredo
super image. Excellent flihgt pose and colors.
05-24-2010, 05:22 PM
Steve Maxson
Love the head-on perspective and the light makes it unique. As an alternate comp, you might crop from the bottom such that the OOF wing reflections are mostly removed. Well done.
05-24-2010, 05:51 PM
Lorant Voros
Super cool shot with the nice color and water elements. Eye isn't visible, but it would be very hard in that light anyway. I like it as presented. Congrats.
Lorant
05-24-2010, 06:20 PM
Randy Stout
Gavin:
Strong image, I loved the thumbnail, and the picture holds up. I have found skimmers difficult to get good head on shots in focus. The light and spray really make this one special.
I think your current rotation is probably about the best compromise.
I would consider some selective sharpening on the spray, to make it pop a bit more, play up the dramatic nature of the shot.
I might crop up a bit from the bottom, but not much. I like the gold water, and room to skim into.
Cheers
Randy
05-24-2010, 08:25 PM
Adams Serra
Hi Gavin,
I like the colors and the water spray.
BTW, word cup just a few weeks away:)
05-24-2010, 09:40 PM
Gavin Spooner
All:
thanks for the comments.
I see the crop off the bottom now. At 1st thought I wanted to keep the full reflection but the wing reflections aren't much so could be lost.
The rotation is a tough one. the left wing tip and its reflection looks pretty vertical. I always want to level the wings but often leave them asymmetrical as that is often the way of them.
I too want to have the skimmed droplets more pronounced and will try some selective sharpening and other tricks to make the drops pop some.
Frustration is part of trying to get a nice image. However frustrating it is, it is also fun and a challenge to hone the skills. It is also worth looking for different ideas/angles etc to give it something unique.
thanks
gavin
PS Adams, we are having a viewing part in Naples for the England v USA game. come join us (it is at an English pub though!)
05-24-2010, 11:02 PM
Troy Lim
Gavin,
Have you tried to darken it a bit more? Since it is dark, would make a nice silhouette.