Knot flypast

[Jonathan Ashton]

Tripod, Canon 7D Canon 500mm f4 L IS &1.4TC ISO 400 1/1600 f7.1

Before you read any further could I ask that you look at the image and formulate an opinion before you read further on.


This image was taken the day after the previous shot of waders in flight, this day the weather was dull and there was heavy grey cloud. As I mentioned previously I wanted to try to capture the spectacle of the immense flock of waders and I also wanted a few in flight portraits along with some ground shots.

This image presented is a composite, as you go from right to left the images are all of the same bird, they are almost consecutive images captured, two frames missing between the images to ensure slightly different poses.
Your comments will be appreciated, I won't say anything more but I have a couple of thoughts I wouldlike to discuss but I think it better to read what you think before I make anyone biased in any particular direction.

[Uri First]

excellent capture , they all in focus and have the same look on their faces. beautiful.

[Randy Stout]

Jon:

Very interesting composite. I have seen lots of them done in a long pano format, showing off the flight with all the different wing positions, but not sure I have seen this version.

I think it is good to not have them laid out perfectly on a grid, a little variability in their positions is good.

It is kind of like a puzzle, moving the different poses around to find the best mix.

Thanks for sharing, and look forward to your thoughts.

Cheers

Randy

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Jonathan:

I like that each individual is capture is worthy of it's own photo. However, if it were mine, I would think about only having one row, either the top or the bottom. If you have a couple more frames, that would be great too!

I have to say that it felt like a composite when I first looked at it. Not saying that in a bad way, just my first impressions.

Miguel

[Diane Miller]

I like this idea but feel it would resent a more powerful image if there were more irregularity in their positioning -- it comes a little too close to a grid. I agree that a more horizontal format and more variable wing positions, if you have them, would give more flow. It is easy to add canvas and copy the even-toned sky to extend it.

[Arthur Morris]

Before looking anywhere I would almost assume that the image is at least in part a collage of sorts.... Now back to the top.

[Arthur Morris]

Six images of the same bird?

[Jonathan Ashton]

Yes indeed six of the same, I am sensing that several people are thinking along the same lines as me, the image just doesn't look credible, as you might guess I have numerous images showing several birds almost in focus along with one that is in focus. This image is created from a bird I isolated and tracked, on the one hand it looks pretty well focused but on the other both arrangement and poses are too similar and don't really make for a credible image.
Guess I will have to try something different, but thanks for all of your comments, you have confirmed my initial thought - bin it! I could not use it for a print (doesn't look "real") or for a natural history competition and it does not seem to impress too many folks in any event.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jon, each bird ( I know its the same bird ) on its own could have created a fine image on its own - bottom right looks the best wing position. Well done for trying something different.

[Bill Dix]

An interesting comp, Jon. It was clear to me that it was a composite, although I can't say exactly why. In part, I think, because the birds are too evenly spaced. Some wing positions are better than others, which is to be expected in a flight sequence. As others have suggested, it might be worth trying a more free-flowing arrangement, perhaps with just the best three or four in an irregular line, varying the distance between them. Don't bin it; a worthy experiment.

[Dennis Zaebst]

First, I think it's a nice photo with sharp birds with good poses. It appears as though the exposure vaires a bit from bird to bird....the upper right bird and lower left bird look close to correct exposure and the others look just a tad darker.

[Gerald Kelberg]

Nice try, Jon! Tricky getting the natural variability of a flock through a composition. It would be interesting to see some of the other images you have created with more variation.

Gerald

[dankearl]

Nice work Jonathan, I would have gone with Five though, I just think odd numbers look better.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Same bird and all sharp, you did well there. The placement of the subject(s) that throws this off IMO. A bit more irregularity would have been much better. But the one that gets me most as being a collage is the body angle...the ones at rear are angling more towards us and then less and less as we look at the the other rows from the right to left. They should all be angled the same "degree" in the same frame. You also forgot to darken the sky in the small opening in the bird's wing and tail in URC. Neat idea though, fun to experiment with digital!!

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks very much everyone, I appreciate your comments very much. The images were shot in AV mode, all same exposure except one. I converted all woth same exposure simultaneously with the same settings in ACR. The other one I matched visually.
Once the images were in Photoshop I decided which was the image to use as the building block, then on the remaining images I use the Quick Selection tool and Refine Edge with Smart Radius to cut and paste. I note there is a tiny patch of sky I missed as pointed out by Dan.