First critique request... White Cattle Egret, Bosque Del Apache

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Hi all....

this is my first post for critique.

i did this yesterday, then realized I submitted to large a file, oops

im without my computer right now, its at the fix it doctor.

so I don't have all of my data available for this image.

i have several versions going for color variation.

all pretty pure, I think this is my favorite.

Image information:

White Cattle Egret, confirmed species by park ranger


This bird was out of season, and found hiding behind cat tails and other growy things. This added interest to the image in my opinion .

photo taken in late November, 2011


Bosque Del Apache NWR, San Antonio, New Mexico

Mid afternoon, no flash, hand held


Sony Cybershot DSC HX 100/V

Focal 144mm
Aperture F5
Exposure 1/800s
ISO 100


Post processing...

crop
sharpen
increase saturation

No cloning or object removal

[John Chardine]

Could you try to link to the image in a reply to the thread. It's not showing up here. Look forward to seeing it!

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Hmmm that's strange it showed up in my preview post...

The link didnt work, maybe iPad post wrong.

i can still see the pic on my phone.

actually think this might work now, was on the wrong part of smugmug for a forum embed picture

[IMG][/IMG]

[John Chardine]

I see the link to a jpg image but when clicked, a file called "Spacer.gif" is downloaded to my computer (this is not good!).

When I took a look at http://www.beethelightimagery.com, your Smugmug page shows no galleries so right now there are no images to link to from there.

Please refer to the BPN posting instructions here.

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...and-Guidelines

Also, BPN guideline 4 is as follows:

"You must register using your real name, first and last. You may not register with multiple identities."

Please send a BPN Personal Message to James Shadle telling him your real name and he can look after the change.

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Hi john,
Well this is very strange I'm on my phone now and the pictures are still showing up.

I was already approved and introduced myself.
Marian already asked about my name...

It is my name... Lindsay I have always shortened to Linz and sign my stuff this way.
River is my middle name.
Balmer is my last name.

As far as the links they should go to my picture only.
The folders on my website will appear empty because I have a private website and its password protected.

I will put these comments on my introduction to clear up.

I haven't paid for a membership yet, justa forum participant.
I did read the instructs to post, thought Ihad it figured out. Must have missed a step somewhere.

[John Chardine]

OK Linz. Sorry about the name but I was confused with no spaces.

Maybe linking to a protected image is the cause of the problem?

[LinzRiverBalmer]

No worries John, I'm new here.

when I signed up it said with or without spaces, so didnt think it mattered.

my computer is out so an iPad is what I have right now and not everything works the same.

soon as my computer comes back I will sign up for membership.

think I figured out the smugmug problem though, they just recently changed everything so learning all over again.

needed to get an embedded link for bbc forum use instead of the simple one I did before.

here goes, let me know if visible.....

[IMG][/IMG]

[John Chardine]

Hi Linz- Now the image is there. Great! I like the dreamy feel with the OOF elements framing the subject. The whites look clipped although a quick check shows that they are below blown. However, there is little detail there. This adds to the arty, out of the box look to the image. Too bad the tree is coming right out of the back of the bird and the small in-focus stick is a bit distracting. I think this image works because it's not trying to be a documentary portrait of the species.

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Thank you John

i can't wait for my computer back so I can have my editing software, limited on iPad.

the stick you are speaking of being distracting..... Kind of lower left coming off the main log the bird is on? Is that the one??

you are right and I didn't even notice it.

i have a couple versions where the tree is a little less prominent but it loses that dreamy feel elsewhere.

the original image is not this red, its more the color of the birds beak, oranges and straw yellow, I applied a peach back filter light.

i feel it showcases the bird, but maybe the rest is a little too red in tones?

yes he is white, I can't believe how white these birds are, looking at other pics....wow

i was told the bird was juvenile hence the lack of tan and brown feathers but it makes the white harder to capture.

overall I was going for dreamy, secretive. Might enter this one as it is different than what is usually captured on the refuge.

should I post the original??

is that something normally done here to compare processing?

[Sandy Witvoet]

Hi Linz, Cool subject.... way difficult to image white birds..... did you intend the "vignetting" around the edges? If so, would be great to see much more detail on the bird. The trees intersecting both the back and the bill are a bit distracting. (I have a TON of these, living in the woods!) Would also be nice to see a bit more foot/leg in focus. Very artsy... has potential. I think your Camera and exif data would certainly help/are recommended by BPN to post with your image. And, the image is a bit small for C/C.

As a newbie here (like me) .... take time to study all the wonderful tutorials and posting instructions... review and comment on similar images and/or those you feel comfortable with....Ask questions...try to keep responses succinct and to the point.

Lastly.... do use the spaces for your name... it's a request that BPN makes when you sign up.... oh.... and do become a member.... the fee will pay you back many times over.
Keep shootin'!



AND, lastly.... thanks for joining us in ETL!

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Hi Sandy,

thank you for the post and input.

Im obviously new and trying to figure this site out. Probably doesn't help that I'm without my computer and only using my mothers iPad wile my puter is being fixed.

sorry for all the questions and info but here goes....

I'm confused on my name problem, its been brought up by John as well.

I'm always super detailed when I sign up for things and do read all the guidelines. So I went back to the register page and it says with or without spaces....

BirdPhotographers.Net requires that you register using your real first and last name , e.g. John Smith or JohnSmith

I will change it if need be. As soon as my computer is back I will be signing up for membership.

thats where the size problem comes in with my picture... The top picture was full allowed size but John couldn't see it, turns out I copied the link wrong from smugmug, the smaller one is the biggest I can get a link for.

my camera info was at the top of the post but may have gotten lost with my photo...




Image information:


White Cattle Egret, confirmed species by park ranger




This bird was out of season, and found hiding behind cat tails and other growy things. This added interest to the image in my opinion .


photo taken in late November, 2011




Bosque Del Apache NWR, San Antonio, New Mexico


Mid afternoon, no flash, hand held




Sony Cybershot DSC HX 100/V


Focal 144mm
Aperture F5
Exposure 1/800s
ISO 100




Post processing...


crop
sharpen
increase saturation


No cloning or object removal


Sandy, to answer your critique questions....

all of the edges that look vignette, are not, they were a natural part of the photograph, as well as the out of focus bits here and there in the vegetation, and over the birds foot, leg.

i was literally behind a screen of cat tails and body high grasses, so I was peeking into basically an off shoot of an irrigation ditch that is part of the refuge flood plain.

this bird was not supposed to be there at that time of year and was not happy that I discovered him. I got a few shots before he left.

i also had no room to maneuver and get vegetation out of the way, as I couldn't cross the barrier where people aren't allowed.

the dreamy feel is what I was going for or hoping for when I saw what I had captured, its not a normal shot for me but was a special treat.

I have a couple versions where the branches are not as prominent behind him but then it loses some of its colors and feel.

will rework it and try again.

[Iain Barker]

Hi Linz,

I like what you have tried to do with this image. I find egret too bright and think it may improve the image if it was toned down slightly. We would then be able to see some detail in the feathers. I think if you darkend the birght area of the tree directly behind the birds back then it my not be as distracting. The fork of the tree behind the beak could be cloned out using the OOF leaves I think, but it depends if you are happy to make these kind of changes to your images.

Welcome to BPN by the way I look forward to seeing more of your images.

Iain

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Thank you both again.

went back to my images on disc and do see that even a simple tone adjustment has just really made the bird too intense.

again, can't wait for my computer back. Will have to wait for that for decent cloning and editing, the iPad is tough.

that said the beak crossing over the other branch is more of an issue than the one behind him.

i actually liked other pics from the series a little better but wasn't sure of the head angle on my favorite.....

so here is that one and to give you more of an idea of the space and colors I have to work with, I've left this one untouched.

same exif data, had my camera on high burst so got 1 series of eight shots before he left.

i like this better but really unsure of head angle, input??

[IMG][/IMG]

[Sandy Witvoet]

Hi Linz.... ok, my-bad on the name thing... just a bit dif to figure out... my apologies. With your second post... much easier to see the OOF vegetation... I do however, like your OP "vertical" more for composition.... Placement of the bird in the frame seems a bit better. LUCKY YOU to be able to photo this beauty...thank you for the background on it!

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Thank you Sandy.... Much appreciated, I like the vertical too but wondering if the beak on this is better, I can crop to the vertical