Guillemot take-off

[Mike Hitchen]

Taken at Bempton cliffs in UK.

1Dx2 with 400mmDOii + 1.4 Mkii extender
ISO800 1/2500 f5.6 30% crop with slight curves adjustment in LR

[John Mack]

Looks as if the bird is falling not flying to me still pretty neat frame. Just wish the bird was more to the left.

[gail bisson]

I love the way you were able to show how these birds dive off the cliff face and theheight of the cliffs.
It looks as though it was a bit foggy when you took this image.
I think this image has a lot of potential if you added a bit of contrast to the entire image,then boosted the blacks in the neutrals and/or blacks in selective coloring by a point or two on the bird only.
I would also shave off about 25% of the cliff - it dominates the image a bit too much. If you have more room below I would include it as it would add to the feeling of height and falling.
I would also do more NR on the cliff.
Look forward to the repost!
Gail

[Alex Becker]

First thing I thought was also adding some more contrast and blacks to the image so Gail has already covered that well. Also agree with the crop suggestions. I tried to grab a frame like this at the Farne Islands without luck -- these guys are fast so nice work. TFS

[Jonathan Ashton]

Well caught, my first reaction was it needed a little more pop, I agree with previous comments.

[Arthur Morris]

Looks as if the bird is falling not flying to me still pretty neat frame. Just wish the bird was more to the left.

I was hoping that the bird were more to the right to better balance the composition. In any case it is sharp and you did a good job with the exposure in the soft light.

Where do you live?

with love, artie on the way to the Galapagos

[Mike Hitchen]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

John Mack - this little guy had just taken off from its nest and they do see to plummet for a short while before fully taking wing. They don't seem the most aerodynamic to me and their wings go like mad with their back legs sticking out from a rather square rear end.
Artie - I live in N England so this is a short drive to the cliffs on NE England (and not far from the Farnes).


Gail and Artie - both of you have made suggestions that had occurred to me and I have attached below a smaller version showing the original unedited file - the cliff dominated on the left and framing further right to reduce it left more empty space. But immediately to the left of my original crop is a nearby ridge and this intruded if I framed to move the bird to the right.
The alternative was to crop closer to give the better balance that Artie suggested though I feel it is getting close to the limit for cropping - I have attached it here.

I have also boosted contrast on the bird (thanks, Gail) and dropped the blacks a bit.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks. The image quality stood up pretty well to what I would consider a very large crop. Was this at Bempton Cifffs?

with love, artie

[Mike Hitchen]

Thank you Artie.
Yes, it was at Bempton.