Fly By...

[Paul Pagano]

I put this here because the framing is certainly out of the box. It's growing on me. This is all in camera except for some work on the eye and the lines along the border.

Canon 30D + 70-200 f/4L
Av @ f/4 1/2000s
ISO 320
Ev Metered at +1
BB Fill Flash

[Julie Kenward]

Even though I'm not a big fan of white BG's, this is really nice! You've exposed the bird wonderfully and I love the framing/comp. I really like the way the stick mirrors those legs going in opposite directions. That really works for me!

[Fabs Forns]

This one is really nice, Paul, I love high key, my only wish would be for a bit more room on top, thr rest of the crop is fune with me :)

[Arthur Morris]

I like it a lot as I love well done flash flight. You might try a crop from the bottom so that the lower leg eners from the corner of the frame...

[Paul Pagano]

Thanks Julie, and Fabs, and Artie....just a quick redo per Artie's suggestion...I didn't resharpen or add the border. I think it was a good suggestion for this shot. The wing span is a bit more even too....

[Arthur Morris]

I like the crop but I liked your elegant border for web presentation. Hard to tell but it looks as if you could have taken an additional 1/16th inch off the bottom as there seems to be some white underneath the lower edge of the leg. Attention to small details is everything... :)

[Brian Wong]

I like the crop but I liked your elegant border for web presentation. Hard to tell but it looks as if you could have taken an additional 1/16th inch off the bottom as there seems to be some white underneath the lower edge of the leg. Attention to small details is everything... :)

Hi Artie!

Do you have any guidelines on how and when to place diagonal lines directly into the corners? I have heard (conflicting) general "rule" advising to avoid situation ... but I am really interested in learning why, and the thinking process of making this image work better. Thanks!

[Paul Pagano]

Here's a better revision, Artie. No shortcuts next time. You are right, attention to detail is everything...something I am learning well here at bpn.

[Arthur Morris]

I like this a ton better. But wish for a bit more room on top; did you have any???

Also, the only things that separates lousy photographers from mediocre photographers from good photographers from great photographers from world class photographers are attention to small details and a willingness to work very hard for a long time...

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Artie! Do you have any guidelines on how and when to place diagonal lines directly into the corners? I have heard (conflicting) general "rule" advising to avoid situation ... but I am really interested in learning why, and the thinking process of making this image work better. Thanks!

No rules, just lots of years of experimenting and devleoping my creative vision and artistic senses... When I started I put every bird in the middle of the frame!!! Too funy.

What do you think of the repost below with the lower leg coming right out of the corner?

[Paul Pagano]

Artie, that was it for the top, I didn't crop any from there. This was why I posed in out of the box because the exposure was spot on but the framing in camera was a bit awkward.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Paul, That's what I figgered. I looked at the image and have a great idea. I would do it myself but I do not know how to make the two lines... Here it goes: create a really in the box out of the box composition by cropping from the left right to the birds lower wing. This will leave the bill pointing directly out of the ulc of the frame. I am betting that it will be way cool.

[Ian McHenry]

Thanks Paul & Artie for great thread.
Paul: Really prefer your last post seems a much more eye catching image.
Ian Mc

[Brian Wong]

Hey Paul, That's what I figgered. I looked at the image and have a great idea. I would do it myself but I do not know how to make the two lines... Here it goes: create a really in the box out of the box composition by cropping from the left right to the birds lower wing. This will leave the bill pointing directly out of the ulc of the frame. I am betting that it will be way cool.

No rules, just lots of years of experimenting and devleoping my creative vision and artistic senses... When I started I put every bird in the middle of the frame!!! Too funy.

What do you think of the repost below with the lower leg coming right out of the corner?

Hi Paul and Artie!

I do like the repost Paul, and the image does appear much stronger. But there is a conflict that I am having a hard time understanding. With the dark diagonal leg leading directly into the corner ... initially, it feels much more "grounded" and "stable". But, my eyes also seem to stay focused in the corner, there rather than on the bird.

Your next suggestion sounds fantastic. No need to know how to "make" the double lines! Using a quick mask on the left-side, double-line boarder ... you can easily move or transform the selection on a layer, and move over to (like a crop) the right. Once the double-line boarder is just right where you want it, then use the crop tool to trim off anything outside.

Thanks for all your generous advise and insights. Have a safe and wonderful trip! We will miss you!

[Arthur Morris]

Do it Brian! I am too busy packing. It might alleviate your concerns. If not, love it; it's what is! Thanks for your kind words.

[Brian Wong]

Do it Brian! I am too busy packing. It might alleviate your concerns. If not, love it; it's what is! Thanks for your kind words.

Hi Artie!

Please forgive me Paul, for working on your image:)

OK Artie, I first tried to move the left boarder ... but it started to look pretty tight around the bill, and also started to get tight, (and steep looking) around the stick.

So I decided to extend the top, and "made" some more wing, and quick-masked the stick. The head/eye/stick area has more room, points to the upper left corner, and is now closer to approx 1/3 ... but I don't know if that is important.

Then I selected and masked the boarders and moved them to this new position. Finally, I cropped out all the extra stuff outside the boarder. This does look stronger to me, and hopefully, this is closer to your vision?

This is a very good exercise, and I thank you again for your guidance. If we don't hear from you ... then we already miss you:(! Can't wait to hear and see all your stuff when you get back:)!!!

[Arthur Morris]

Brian, Most important question: How much per week are the boarders paying??? Or did you mean borders?

I like the version above a lot but I would still love to see it in the box as per my suggestion above. It would be OK to be tight in the box with the added room on top. (Maybe Paul can have a go at it... Is he still around???)

next question: did you bend the stick on purpose?

I fly tomorrow morning to Atlanta and then on to Gatwick and then 12 days on the ship and then to Orlando overnight and on to Montreal and Bonaventure and then home in just 24 short days. You gotta love it. I still gotta do my 2007 taxes. Yikes. So, y'all are not quite rid of me yet.

And Brian, thanks on all counts!

[Paul Pagano]

I do like this one I think the best. Heck if I haven't altered it too much I might enter it in the AF contest. Thanks for all of the discussion on this one, Artie and Brian.....learning a ton!