Compositional Study

[WIlliam Maroldo]

I've read (and observed) that bird photographs don't have be close-ups or frame-fillers to be good, and that the birds don't even need to fill up a substantial area of the image. I've been playing around with the idea, and these three black-necked stilts are the result. There are several rules of composition, as most of you know, such as the rule of thirds. Simplicity is also quite important, and simple geometric shapes can make an image dynamic. In the case of this image there somewhat triangular shapes created by the position of the birds, and although there is some clutter on the soil the 2 birds are standing on (which could be dealt pretty easily with a clone-stamp tool), the image is simple. I'd be interested in comments from a compositional point of view, and suggestions on technique and post-processing as well.~onlybill

Sony A-700 Tamron 200-500mm@500mm ISO 200 1/1600 sec F6.3 +0.7 EV 4:19 PM

[Dave Slaughter]

I like this photo from the standpoint of the birds interacting. From a compositional standpoint my only comment is that the birds are spread out evenly, and I think the image would be more pleasing if the middle bird was to the left. Having said that, the only thing I can intentionally make birds do is to fly away - they don't exactly follow directions. The lighting is a bit harsh, again not something you can control.
I sometimes wonder why certain aspects of a photo are considered poor and others are not. For example, I recently put up a post of a white-throated sparrow foraging in the leaf litter, and as most foraging birds do he was looking down at the ground. I was quite pleased that I got so close (by crawling) and got a shot with the bird seemingly unaware of the photographer, but the fact that he was looking down rather than at the camera was criticised by several observers. I've read that for larger mammals the shot is considered better if the animal is NOT focused on the photographer. Can anyone comment on this? I do realize this is a matter of taste but it is confusing to me.

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Dave: The fact that one bird is in the center seemed problematic to me as well. I have another similar image, shot perhaps minutes later, that shows a completely different scheme. Same camera settings, light, etc.3 birds are grouped on the left, yet the single(non-interested in the commotion) bird on the left seems to balance out the picture. Of course that could be just the way I see it. The second image has a more panoramic crop as well. The lighting seeming a little harsh is something that I think I could do something with in post-processing. It wasn't (I don't think) due to the actual lighting conditions at the time.
I certainly wonder why certain aspects of a photo are poor and others are not as well. One reason I posted these images here was to temporarily deviate from the technical aspects of bird photography, such as camera settings, lighting, and post-processing methods and deal with basic compositional photography. There are many aspects of good photography that need to be learned, and the fact that birds are our subjects doesn't change this.
I wouldn't be too disheartened by criticism about an image that only you know was difficult to take. See the photograph does not tell your side of the story, and only reveals what you saw. I have a tendency to mix these up in my head: my experience and the photograph, and expect others to see the image the same as I do. Obviously they can only see the photograph as it is. As far as the bird looking at you or not, as with other valid comments on this forum, they are meant as guides, and indeed make for better images. If the bird were keenly looking at some other important element in the image, and that was apparent, that would be good too. In the example of the bird appearing to look at the viewer(making eye contact) , I think is because there is a need for the viewer to be connected in some way with the bird. Eye contact is also preferred in taking pictures of people as well. Don't take criticism too hard. As a matter of fact, criticism, whether quite applicable or unwarranted, often makes us think about things that ultimately should make us better photographers. Later~onlybill

[Desmond Chan]

I sometimes wonder why certain aspects of a photo are considered poor and others are not. For example, I recently put up a post of a white-throated sparrow foraging in the leaf litter, and as most foraging birds do he was looking down at the ground...but the fact that he was looking down rather than at the camera was criticised by several observers. I've read that for larger mammals the shot is considered better if the animal is NOT focused on the photographer. Can anyone comment on this? I do realize this is a matter of taste but it is confusing to me.

Here's what I think: you and they were looking at the photo from different perspectives, judging it with different criteria. I don't think one is necessarily better than the other. Simply different rules for different situations. Just my thoughts.

[Alfred Forns]

Great discussion !!!!!!!!!

Dave any suggestions we give are just that ... suggestions. Don't think anyone is criticising. Do keep in mind while we all make comments it does not mean they are correct !! Would suggest reading all then making your own opinions. You should be able to see certain suggestions that keep cropping up and will hold valid.

The head turn business is a good one and do want to take up that point. Generally a bird will look better with a slight angle toward the camera. It just looks better and the tip of the bill will be in the same plane as the eye ball making both in sharp focus (if you focused on the eye) Does this hod true for all? Not at all and your example could be one of them. You can have a bird landing and would be expected for him to be looking at the landing site and not the camera or the foraging example you made. For any I would have to see and decide what I would like best.

For the image above with the stilts I would much rather have the bird on the left looking up and right at the landing bird. He might be looking to eat something on the ground but to me the action is on the landing bird and his lack of attention is detracting (twenty lashes for the bird :) )

I like the image a lot Would only make into more of a pano to zero in on the action With multiple birds all principle hold and you did very well here just the one bird looking away Also did well with the harsh light btw the bg clutter does not bother me much since its slight and not prominent !!! Excellent !!!! btw the second post does not do much for me A larger image of the group on the left would be good