Flock Take-Off
Canon 40D
Canon EF 75-300 f/4.0 - 5.6
1/1000
F8
ISO 250
Exposure Compensation 0.0
300 mm
I love the scene, but the image just doesn't seem to do much. Why? Too far away to get good details?
I wish there were more space between the last two swans. PS says the whites are not overexposed but it looks like they are here. It was quite an overcast day. and the head angle is a bit off too. lol
hi cheryl, i think there are maybe a couple of reasons. first one being they are flying away from you. might be better if they were coming towards you or right in front of you. secondly, i think you were too close to them. if you had been furthur away it would have been more of a birdscape than a bird image. dont need as much detail in the bird in a birdscape. and i agree with the last two birds intersecting each other. might consider evicting the last one completely.Originally Posted by Cheryl Flory
cant wait to get this critique critiqued!! have at it!!:D:o:o
Hi Cheryl - oh dear, what a day for the HAP!!!!!
I would be inclined to crop a fair bit from the top of the image thus making it more of a pano. This would get rid of much of the distracting stuff at the top of the picture. I know what you mean about the whites, but how do you handle them when they are not blown-out but look as if they are - anybody???
Harold, I think you may have nailed it - although I like the idea of a pano from Nicki as well. I am not so much bothered by the level of the whites as I am by the dullness of the water and the lack of detail in the trees. Try pulling more saturation into the water or adjust the hue to get a bluer feel to it and then do a levels adjustment and bring up the midtones of the trees just a bit. See if that doesn't change the way you feel about the overall image.
Oh and DO clone out that last bird. I think you'll be glad you did!
Race for last place
Hi Cheryl:
Love the idea of folks for Pano . . . the last 2 birds IMHO make the picturer, have seen many single or separated duo or trio takeoff's, but I'd rather watch a race anytime . . . Loco Uncle Gus :D
and the title change makes the difference in the value of the last two.
now I have to try to figure out how to do the PhotoShop adjustments recommended here.
I very much appreciate the information! thank you
Hi Cheryl!
I'm in agreement with above.
Some ideas to work with ... with some planning and anticipation, you can generally guess by the wind direction and prior take-offs, which direction they will fly (generally into the wind). With that knowledge, I would try moving myself to the right a bunch. That will have the birds coming more toward you.
Also try to keep in mind the direction of the sun. There are times when everything will just all come together, and other times nothing seems to work!! If you know the area, try going early in the morning or in the evening. See where the sun is, and then go over to that shore so that the sun is behind you and the birds in front of you.
The birds on my screen look slightly overexposed with not much data in the wings. Easy to check the histogram for "blinkies" and make adjustments.
Panorama format tend to help emphasize horizontal action. It also helps cut down distractions as in Gus's repost. Setting a wider aperture from f/8 will also help cut down the background distractions (just set enough to get all your subject in focus).
I like what you were trying to do. Nice action, and you have them all in the frame. If you don't mind removing the overlapping ... you will have 3 birds ... which I am told is a good thing! Hope that is helpful!
Cheryl, I like Gus's version very much and like you, I often want to keep images that don't meet all the criteria...
Great capture on your part.Does seem a little soft on my monitor. Like the composition very much.
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