Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Three Oystercatchers and An Onlooker

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Maryland's Eastern Shore, beside Fairlee Creek near the Chesapeake Bay
    Posts
    1,961
    Threads
    344
    Thank You Posts

    Default Three Oystercatchers and An Onlooker

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    D7200 w/Nikkor 28-300mm @ 190mm, hand held
    ISO 640; f/11, 1/400 sec.; matrix metering + 0.33

    Conspicuous in this photo are three birds -- a Magellanic and two Blackish Oystercatchers. Not quite so obvious is another Magellanic Oystercatcher peeking out from behind the rock ledge in the background. It may have been keeping an eye on its mate, which was soon chased away by the Blackish Oystercatchers. Taken at Carcass Island, the Falkland Islands.

    All comments and suggestions are welcome.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Lincolnshire UK.
    Posts
    4,951
    Threads
    187
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice to get the different species together Norm ,peeking one just adds some more interest, thanks for showing this.

    Keith.

  3. #3
    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    San Francisco, California, United States
    Posts
    18,553
    Threads
    1,320
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good to get a few in the frame, it's a nice documentary shot but it doesn't quite work as an avian image IMO. The near bird is totally OOF while the rest are kind of arranged randomly in the frame with no particular/strong interaction between them. The side light caused some harsh shadows and the far OC's with only part of head visible doesn't add much.

    TFS
    New! Sony Capture One Pro Guide 2022
    https://arihazeghiphotography.com/Gu.../Sony_C1P.html


    ------------------------------------------------
    Visit my blog
    http://www.arihazeghiphotography.com/blog

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Maryland's Eastern Shore, beside Fairlee Creek near the Chesapeake Bay
    Posts
    1,961
    Threads
    344
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thank you Arash for your technical analysis. But I'm not sure why you say the photo doesn't "work as an avian image".

    It's true that there was no particular interaction between the birds. Maybe that's because they were foraging independently after the tide went out. And maybe it is also because there were two different species that were not on friendly terms. As I mentioned, the Magellanic bird was chased away by the other two. Under the circumstances, what kind of interaction would you expect?

    As for focus on all four birds not being perfect, what you have done? I stopped my lens down to f/ll and think I picked a good focus point under difficult circumstances. And is any bird really "totally OOF"??

    I obviously could do nothing about the sun but frankly don't find the small shadows that objectionable. Of course it would have been better without them. But what would you have done, not taken the shot at all because the sun was shining?

    And as for only the head of the distant bird showing, I think that adds an element of interest.

    Shooting such a complex scene is far more difficult that photographing a single perching, swimming or flying bird IMO. But I will always relish the challenge of capturing images like this even though they are quite difficult.

    Regards,

    Norm

  5. #5
    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    San Francisco, California, United States
    Posts
    18,553
    Threads
    1,320
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Norm,

    Sorry to say but it's just not an attractive image IMO, apart form its many technical flaws. We critique images as presented and this one doesn't work for me...Sometimes the conditions aren't just right for making a good photo and this is one of them.



    Best
    Last edited by arash_hazeghi; 03-05-2016 at 04:48 PM.
    New! Sony Capture One Pro Guide 2022
    https://arihazeghiphotography.com/Gu.../Sony_C1P.html


    ------------------------------------------------
    Visit my blog
    http://www.arihazeghiphotography.com/blog

  6. #6
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,557
    Threads
    1,438
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It does not work for me either for many, many reasons; let me know if you would like me to expound on those.
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Maryland's Eastern Shore, beside Fairlee Creek near the Chesapeake Bay
    Posts
    1,961
    Threads
    344
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Arash and Arthur. But as one interested in documenting bird behavior, it would have been nice if you had addressed some of my specific questions. Photographing bird behavior is often complex, but I think it is important. And critiques are more valuable when problems are not only identified, but solutions and better approaches are offered as well. In that way we can improve.

  8. #8
    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    San Francisco, California, United States
    Posts
    18,553
    Threads
    1,320
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Norm Dulak View Post
    Thanks Arash and Arthur. But as one interested in documenting bird behavior, it would have been nice if you had addressed some of my specific questions. Photographing bird behavior is often complex, but I think it is important. And critiques are more valuable when problems are not only identified, but solutions and better approaches are offered as well. In that way we can improve.

    Norm,

    looks like you didn't read my first post.

    I am sorry but this shot doesn't show any special behavior, it's just a point and shoot frame of a bunch of randomly positioned OC's on the ground in relatively harsh light while none is in sharp focus, lacking details. The BG and FG are both distracting. You can bring many excuses for each item, but that doesn't change this image.

    better luck next time

    Regards,
    Last edited by arash_hazeghi; 03-06-2016 at 03:35 AM.
    New! Sony Capture One Pro Guide 2022
    https://arihazeghiphotography.com/Gu.../Sony_C1P.html


    ------------------------------------------------
    Visit my blog
    http://www.arihazeghiphotography.com/blog

  9. #9
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,557
    Threads
    1,438
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Norm Dulak View Post
    Thanks Arash and Arthur. But as one interested in documenting bird behavior, it would have been nice if you had addressed some of my specific questions. Photographing bird behavior is often complex, but I think it is important. And critiques are more valuable when problems are not only identified, but solutions and better approaches are offered as well. In that way we can improve.
    Looking at the original post not only were there no questions there was not even a single question so please explain your comment :) a
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  10. #10
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Wyre Forest Worcestershire
    Posts
    4,096
    Threads
    557
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    An interesting topic,
    I too am more interested in bird behaviour than competition winners,or pixel peeping.
    This is probably not ideal on a "critique " forum. Maybe needs a new thingy or is there oine?
    JR

  11. #11
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,362
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Norm, its always great to get more than one subject in the frame. It looks like the light was really harsh here, which is not ideal. The angle of the OC in the LLC isnt bad, but the others are not ideal due to their poses/body positions. Its always best to get these shots in early sweet morning or late afternoon light, which in turn will bring out lovely warm colours. Im not sure if you had to travel far to this location, but I get up that extra early to arrive at my locations to get early morning light. With regards to capturing behaviour, all good and fine as long as hopefully you had managed to get one with something in their beaks, but once again in that sweet light I mentioned. Its all about the light.

  12. #12
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Maryland's Eastern Shore, beside Fairlee Creek near the Chesapeake Bay
    Posts
    1,961
    Threads
    344
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Stu, for your thoughtful and helpful comments. But John Robinson may be right, that there should a different forum dedicated to bird behavior. I once thought that the "Avian: About Birds" forum would serve that purpose, but it's mostly about bird ID.

    Could a forum about bird behavior be started for photos such as this one, which shows birds of different species foraging together, and others that I and other BPN members might like to post in the future?

    Meanwhile, my apologies for posting an image that was technically not up to the standards of this critique forum.
    Last edited by Norm Dulak; 03-06-2016 at 07:03 AM.

  13. #13
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I do not wish to stir up any ill feeling or show favouritism to anyone. I think the comments made can be encapsulated in terms of this being an interesting image showing different yet similar species, and that this is not easy to capture. From a technical point of view it is not a strong image but from a point of interest is may be regarded as so.

  14. #14
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,557
    Threads
    1,438
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Norm Dulak View Post
    Thanks Stu, for your thoughtful and helpful comments. But John Robinson may be right, that there should a different forum dedicated to bird behavior. I once thought that the "Avian: About Birds" forum would serve that purpose, but it's mostly about bird ID.

    Could a forum about bird behavior be started for photos such as this one, which shows birds of different species foraging together, and others that I and other BPN members might like to post in the future?

    Meanwhile, my apologies for posting an image that was technically not up to the standards of this critique forum.
    Such a forum already exists:

    Forums: Avian: About Birds

    Post images or questions regarding bird ID, behavior or terminology. If you have a question about a bird, ask our Staff Ornithologist. If you have an interesting or unusual bird behavior image, share it!

    You can access it here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...an-About-Birds
    BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.

    BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics