Hello folks, I'll be curious to hear your opinions on this picture. I'm most interested to hear how you feel about the cropped sign. The original has the sign in its entirety, but I prefer it this way, perhaps because it asks the viewer to complete the words in his/her brain, something like that? Also, this particular composition holds greater appeal for y.t. but anyhow, this picture was taken with a Canon 7D and 200mm f2.8 lens. The settings: iso320, 1/1250, 2.8. O folks, please do share your thoughts with me! PS This bird is the official mascot of the Stormwater Management Association of Southwestern Toronto (SMAST) and I can see why!
The comp as is doesn't work for me, Jack, b/c the bird is too centered. I would prefer seeing more of the sign and maybe considering placing the bird in the upper left side of the frame with more of the sign. BG looks good as does the bird.
Agree with Marina in regards to wanting to see more of the sign and tone down the bright glare from it. However as is I like the concept, the grumpy caretaker of the area if you like. Liking the mottled backdrop and dof, the caretaker/bird itself is quite nice with some good detail coming through. I think also it could do with a bit cropped off the top to just below the larger orange splotch on the right hand top
I like the bird but i think I would lose some of the BG and crop it so the bird is off centered. I think I would rather see no sign or the entire sign. When there are words you want to read them (IMO)...TFS
Thanks folks, interesting to read your opinions. I purposely used a 2.8 aperture here, and as such the words trail off anyhow...it is impossible to read STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY as entire words, we fill in the missing letters from word-recognition. The full-frame shot has all the words in their entirety. It's difficult for me to explain why the bird-in-center composition works very well (for me) here, it just feels right, and I've certainly tried this shot out a few different ways. I'm very glad to hear your opinions, as always, and I'll certainly play around with the shot a little more...
As long as you are playing around with the shot, add this to your options. I like the bird and the background but would like to see less of the sign. Maybe crop some from the top and some from the right. Leave "Stormwater" in and the "M" from Management and delete the rest.
Hi Jack, good eye contact from 'management' and I like the varied coloured BG. Comp wise, I would move him over to the left, leave the sign in, maybe a bit more, and definately take some off the top.
Stormwater Mockingbird
Reply With Quote
