Waiting for Sunset - A Birdscape

[dankearl]

Green Heron.

1/640, iso1000, f5.6, 340mm (70-200 f2.8 w/1.7 tc), D610, HH
PP in ACR, PS6, NX2
30% of original image.

610_0346-bp5.jpg

[arash_hazeghi]

Hi Dan,
I like the inclusion of environment especially the colors but I wish the water was calmer, the ripples distract my eye a bit. the bird's head is angled away from us which reduces the impact of the image

TFS

[John Robinson]

It is a pity about the head turn , but I find the whole image a gem. I feel as though I am in the picture. Maybe darkening the head might help a bit.
JohnR

[Grace Scalzo]

Dan, I like the impressionist feel to this image. The bird is gazing and as we can see his eye, the head angle doesn't have a negative impact on me. I do wish that the one ripple hadn't interfered with the reflection of the head. Any chance that you have another in the series where this doesn't happen? There is a nice moodiness to this which I appreciate.

[David Salem]

Not sure why most people think that the bird 'Has' to be looking at you to make it a pleasing frame. I keep a lot of frames with similar poses to this showing the bird in it's environment and a HA showing it looking off into the distance. This is executed perfectly IMO.

[arash_hazeghi]

Not sure why most people think that the bird 'Has' to be looking at you to make it a pleasing frame. I keep a lot of frames with similar poses to this showing the bird in it's environment and a HA showing it looking off into the distance. This is executed perfectly IMO.

Hi Dave,

you are right that there are no strict rules really and there are many exceptions, but in general I think having the bird looking at the viewer makes a stronger connection with the viewer. Somewhat like photographing a person, when we photograph someone, we usually don't photograph the back of their head but have them look at the camera.

Artie has a nice article here, the most viewed on BPN http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...le-Fine-Points

best

[David Salem]

Hey Arash and Dan,

I do appreciate that the HA in "most" frames are best viewed with the subject looking directly at the viewer and I post and print "most" of my images in that manor but I also like a lot of the images I capture with the subject looking off into the distance. Sometimes it gives the impression of them in a "hunting mode" as they search the landscape for prey. Many portrait photographers shoot people as they stand on a pier or a boat as they look off into the distance. One of my favorite shots of my son is shot in this fashion. Although not a "birdscape" like Dan's frame, I still find this frame very appealing even though I have many frames of this guy looking right at me. It's an older shot and not the best IQ, but you get the idea.

Thanks

[Raybel Robles]

I like the image with the water ripples as it is. It adds a lot to the image. There's a few spots in the image where it seems to be a bit off. I think it was something to do with selected noise reduction. Specifically around the birds beak and in the middle of the branch on the top part it seems to be noisy compare to the rest of the water which is noise free.

Regarding the HA, I think in the majority of the images a good HA is needed, but on some images like on this one which is more of a birdscape I think the bird looking into the distance is not bad as long as the head is not completely turn away.

[arash_hazeghi]

yes I agree and mentioned there are always exceptions to this rule, but I feel the OP is not one of these exceptions... any ways good discussion

[Satish Ranadive]

Superb and well balanced birdscape with very nice reflection in beautiful water.
Nice and healthy discussion too.

Regards,
Satish.