It has taken me six months to get up the nerve to post on this site. I have a few photos that I'd like to put up and didn't quite know where to start - I ended up choosing this cormie. He posed for me for about a half hour on the rocks at Lands End in Captiva, Florida. I didn't get the greatest angle with regard to the rocks because I was afraid that if I moved too much he would fly away. And while technically I'm sure it isn't correct to have him clipped out of the frame on the right side, I thought that maybe it works because of the way he is looking to the left. Looking forward to hearing comments/criticism. Thanks for the look!
Shooting Info: Canon 40D with EF 100-400/f4.5 lens @ 400mm ISO 100 1/400 sec at f/5.6
Hi Jodee So glad you decided to post !!! ..will never look back!!!
I like your reasoning and steps taken to reach this point !!! I like the exposure, clarity, sharpness and overall feel !!! Crop wise would like to see a more deliberate crop rather than the clip Rather see a strong crop for the image as presented ...... but I see you made the image at 400 ..... maybe backing down the zoom and including more would have been a better choice. Remember is fine to have a little room for tweaking the crop after the fact !!!! Hoping to see many more !!!! .... btw killer bg !!!
Thank you SO MUCH, Alfred and Lance for your comments. I totally agree with what you both said, and, Lance, of course I don't mind that you worked on the image for me. It looks amazing! I love it! The tighter, deliberate crop works beautifully. And I love the sharpened eye. Now I have to make a confession. I am the only digital photographer on the face of the earth who has never opened PS. I have CS3, but I am afraid of it. So, any image editing I do is very basic editing in Lightroom. I don't think I could have use LR to do the kind of sharpening on the eye that you did, Lance. The good news is that when I send my youngest off to college in August, the first thing I am going to do is take a PS course! Thanks again for your great input and help, Alfred and Lance!
HI Jodee You can learn PS very fast Do have a suggestion for you Might want to do a google search on Scott Kelby He is the finest PS instructor in the universe. Check out what they offer and I think you will be pleased. I think can take some of the lessons for free and sign up only if you like them.
I think you will find it easy and fascinating It is the best way to learn... at your pace at hame and no pressure !!! Link below
Hi Jodee - no worries - I am no PS expert by any means - just know enough to do what I want - you will also find there are many many ways of doing the same thing.
hey AL - that training looks good - goin gto have a look myself :)
Alfred, thank you so much! It is funny that you mentioned Scott Kelby. I have several of his books, including his Digital Photography (Volumes 1 and 2), his Lightroom book and one of his Photoshop CS3 books. I JUST went online yesterday and ordered his 7 Step Photoshop book as well as one of the DVDs he offers where you learn the program like you said - at home, at your own pace. I figured that I could start with the DVD and book over the summer and then take a course at my local community college if I need to in the Fall. Thanks for your encouraging words about PS - I don't know why, but I just feel so intimidated by it! But I like the way Scott writes - very clearly, very concisely, and right on point. I am glad to know that you recommend him - now I can't wait to get started!
Jodee,
Welcome to BPN! I love your image. Lance did an excellent job of cropping it and sharpening the eye.
The bg is lovely. Very sharp focus too. Nice feather detail. Keep them coming!
The people here are all very nice. Don't be shy.
Scott Kelbys books are awesome. I can completely understand him. Also I bought classroom in a book. I really like that one too.
another big welcome to the BPN family!! awesome first post. all points have been convered above. great looking bird!!! cant wait to see some more from you!
Thank you Sharna, Katie and Harold, for your kind words. Whew...this first post thing wasn't as scary as I thought it would be! You guys are so nice. Harold, I have seen your work on this site for a while and love it. Sharna and Katie, I have just seen your images recently - you girls are GOOD! I am excited to see more!
And yes, Harold, that WAS one patient bird! He must have known I was a beginner!
Hey Jodee,
I'm glad you posted since I'm the guilty party that talked you into the 40D :D at Artie's LI seminar. I see you used it in Florida! Very nice advice offered above also! If you have the opportunity..........Nickerson Beach is really hot right now with Oystercatchers, nesting Skimmers, & terns as well as the ever present gulls. good place to practice early am (or late PM) poses and flight and the 100-400 should work well there.
Great to see you jumping in with both feet and congrats on your first image post!
I owe you a big "thank you." I'm glad you got me to buy that 40D - I LOVE it. It is a big step up from my 20D! I had a blast with it in Florida. I wish I was there now to catch some of the action at Nickerson Beach (where is that exactly) but I am home in Yorktown : ( Thanks for taking a look at my cormie - I liked what Lance did with it on the eye and the crop. I'll put a couple more things up in the coming days now that I've gotten over my fear of posting...
Hi Jodee, Great to see you again. The gang above has covered just about everything!
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.
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Welcome Jodee! A terrific first post. Lance did a great job with the repost too. You'll find the Eager to Learn group very supportive and quite knowledgeable. I'm a relative CS3 novice myself, but it's not too difficult to do a good job with birds. Look forward to seeing more of your posts!
My First Bird Post
