Last weekend I was near the end of the Texas City Dike, which extends about 5 miles into Galveston Bay. I was primarily photographing least terns, who nonsensically insisted on laying eggs in a busy gravel parking lot that served a nearby public boat ramp. The forsters and royal terns were hanging around as well. I caught sight of two royal terns, sitting on a rusted metal wave barrier, having some sort of dispute. The image presented here I found remarkable because of the geometrical wing angles. The next shot I made shows them momentarily locking bills, yet the wing position was much more chaotic.
I have the inclination to crop to the wing tips, and create sort of visual anchors to the frame, but I'm not sure about this, and I may have cropped too much already.
The rusty barrier was much too dark in the original. I masked it and lightened it up. The holes in the barrier could easily be filled in with a clone brush, but I'm not sure that I should. I did sharpen the image somewhat as well. ~onlybill
Hmmm, I don't think I would crop it anymore and I do like the wing angles, the interaction and the bill positions. Filling in the holes in the rusty barrier would put more focus on the action but I sorta like it as is, especially because you can see the bay through the holes. It might need a little eye work and maybe a little lighter? IAC, I really like it.
The first is that you wanted to include the wholes in the perch and they are shown totally (not cuts) If something is important enough to show, then show the entire thing !!!
Exposure is very good, sharp and great animated interaction. About all you could ask for here is the slight separation Wing/body beak/beak
Crop wise I would like seeing just a little more space around the wing tips Don't think it would be good cropping into them. Cropping into them will be difficult. The left is easy but the right will be a bear ... cut the wing and there goes the tail, just do a little and you are clipping !!! I like it a lot !!!
I'm glad you liked the image! Don't miss Royal Feud #2
I appreciate everyone's comments. What is most encouraging is what wasn't brought up, like image is too soft, or under-exposed, and stuff like that. I feel like I'm making progress! I thought about reposting the image, with more room etc., but since there wasn't a clear consensus (thanks Gus and Nikki) I decided to start a new thread with the image that was recorded of the two birds one second later. It will be called Royal Feud #2. ~onlybill
Last edited by WIlliam Maroldo; 06-24-2008 at 09:31 PM.
Royal Feud
