Feral Pigeon

[Steve Kaluski]

Again, not a stunning or interesting image and in all honesty, I do question posting it, however the reason for taking it was ultimately the light, I just loved the BKG picking up on the intense orange of the eye as the sun hit it. Very little PP was done, plus it's a common species that at times is overlooked because it's so in abundance and borders on being vermin too.

On reflection stopping down to say f/11 would have been better I feel, with more DoF.

Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

Steve

Subject: Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica) in morning light
Location: UK
Camera: Canon 1DX MKII
Lens: 500f/4 with 1.4x HH
Exposure: 1/2000s at f/5.6 ISO800 EV -1
Original format: Landscape, slight crop
Processed via: LRCC & PSCC2017

[Isaac Grant]

I agree that the light is beautiful and I applaud trying to see a common species in a different way. Face and head look great as does the background. Agree that a higher fstop would have help to get more of the bird in focus but I am not sure that is necessary. I see this as one of those shots that people like or don't, and I am strongly in the like side. I like very much the way the dark and out of focus body draws you in to that intense eye.

[Ryan von Linden]

I like it. A little more DOF might be nice but like Isaac said I'm not sure it's necessary. The only thing I would do differently would be the crop, which I would place just to the left of where the back of the head meets the body. I would either include more space in front of the bird or make it a square crop.

[Steve Kaluski]

Here you go guys, thanks

[Stuart Philpott]

Steve I too applaud the use of what some might consider a mundane subject to find an interesting image which is exactly what you have done, the bkg's reflection of the eye in colour tone is wonderful mate,grabbed me immediately. I concur with the self crit,more dof for me please I find the wing feathers not being quite as sharp as I'm used to from you Steve slightly distracting. Now whether that might apply to another image from another I'm unsure. I can't help but study what you do bro ,you tirelessly push many of us forwards me included on a huge level ,tis natual to stare a bit!!


Mate you set a very high ball park I'm actually really glad you did post this dof aside the mantra behind this from a guy whom shoots north to south is undeniably cool
I love that bro I adore the simplicity of a guy whom shoots polar bears and god knows what else but can still try to find beauty in a feral pige .....sees the light.... sees what could be and tries to make something stunning
Steve simply that rocks
nuff said take care

merry chrimbo mate

Stu

[keith mitchell]

Hi Steve,lovely job especially the eye and just a touch of that nice sheen on the head. would F11 brought the wing into focus?

Keith.

[Adhika Lie]

I love this shot, Steve. I would probably crop a little tighter from the bottom just to de-emphasize the OOF wing a little more.

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

Great Shot. Beautiful clean background. Background really works. I really like the eye. Tack sharp. I agree with everyone, higher f stop would have been ideal..
Thank you for sharing this image.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent portrait. Beautiful colors and details. Love the eye.

Regards,
Satish.

[Jonathan Ashton]

A fine shot Steve, I like the image preferring the repost from a compositional point of view. The fact it is a feral pigeon doesn't matter to me, it is a high quality image with super detail. I think a little more DOF would help with the feathered ruff but all concentration is really on the eye so I think it is a relatively minor consideration.
(Did you need a full -1 EV, just wondering if the metering is different on the MKII?)

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the eye clarity, complimentary BG and composition in the repost. DOF is not an issue for me. Very well done Steve.

[Steve Kaluski]

Many thanks folks, as I said, I was unsure about posting, but it appears I was right in posting, glad you liked it. As I mentioned in the intro, more DoF would have been better, but that is with hindsight and I will remember for the future.

Keith I think f/11, but I could go f/14..., I should get into the habit of using the DoF on camera.

Jon, IMHO there is a lot more dynamic range and so what I have found is that with the MK2 I need to go further compared to the MK1. A nightmare if you haver both like Andreas has, as you need to keep thinking which body you have at the time, hence swopping to the two MK2's, as I can 'mirror' the settings etc, but I still make mistakes.

[Steve Kaluski]

Steve I too applaud the use of what some might consider a mundane subject to find an interesting image which is exactly what you have done, the bkg's reflection of the eye in colour tone is wonderful mate,grabbed me immediately. I concur with the self crit,more dof for me please I find the wing feathers not being quite as sharp as I'm used to from you Steve slightly distracting. Now whether that might apply to another image from another I'm unsure. I can't help but study what you do bro ,you tirelessly push many of us forwards me included on a huge level ,tis natual to stare a bit!!

Mate you set a very high ball park I'm actually really glad you did post this dof aside the mantra behind this from a guy whom shoots north to south is undeniably cool
I love that bro I adore the simplicity of a guy whom shoots polar bears and god knows what else but can still try to find beauty in a feral pige .....sees the light.... sees what could be and tries to make something stunning
Steve simply that rocks
nuff said take care

merry chrimbo mate

Stu, I'm very humble by your kind words and hope you can make the same leaps & bound next year as you have done in 2016 with limited resources across the board. Yes, I do push folk because I see the potential and if we all chime in then it can only help.

Have a great Xmas too and trust you may get both time and some 'lady luck' during the festive period where you can go out and shoot.

cheers
Steve

[Joseph Przybyla]

I'm late to this party, but I love the image. Beautiful colors grey and orange, nice feather detail on the head, perfect exposure. A question... did you apply a vignette or darken the corners? Thank you for sharing, Steve.