Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Least Sandpiper

  1. #1
    Paul Ricciardi
    Guest

    Default Least Sandpiper

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Olympus E1, Sigma 50-500 @ 500mm, F/7.1, 1/400th, ISO 800, EV-0

    Photographed this guy from a kayak in a swamp here in Connecticut. Not too terribly positive on the ID (I'll admit I am NOT the world's best ID'er of birds). Really loving the kayak, let's me get good and close. Let me know what you think.
    Thanks
    Paul

  2. #2
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Paul, Your bird is a Spotted Sandpiper in fresh juvenal plumage. (Do check out my Shorbirds; Beautiful Beachcombers; it is packed with ID and aging tips.

    While the image is relatively sharp--the bird could use some selective sharpening--you have cut off the feet. With so much room in the frame, this is a mortal sin. With the kayak rolling and rocking you need to concentrate on getting the central sensor on the subject even if it means a centered COMP. You can always crop after the fact. But rule #1 for small in the frame subjects is: get the whole subject in the frame with some space on all sides.
    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.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










  3. #3
    Lance Peters
    Guest

    Default

    Hi Paul - looks like everything has been covered by the man himself :)

    Keep them coming.

  4. #4
    Julie Kenward
    Guest

    Default

    I agree with Artie about the bird needing to be sharpened but I have to admit I'm not loving the foreground or the background in this image. Did you do a huge crop on this? I can't figure out why there seems to be so much distortion and noise in the image.

  5. #5
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Fully agree with above !!!

    I've don some photographing from moving small boats and it is a great idea to have a little extra room all around !!!!

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    2,940
    Threads
    288
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    To me the most serious problem is the cutting off of the leg. The bird could be "moved" more to the side, too. Negative space could be good if used properly, I think. Unfortunately, it may not be the case here.
    Last edited by Desmond Chan; 08-01-2008 at 10:57 PM.

  7. #7
    Paul Ricciardi
    Guest

    Default

    I had no choice on the legs guys, he was almost in a trench of earth and due to the fact that I was in a kayak I couldn't get a higher angle to include the legs. I could have stood up in the kayak in an attempt to include the legs but that's just stupid with a camera haha. So it was no legs or no shot...thanks for the advice regarding the legs though I'll be sure to attempt to include them in the future.

    Julie-this is full frame, normally my ISO800 images from the E1 are not this bad, but this one is particularly rough.

    Thanks for the input, much appreciated
    Last edited by Paul Ricciardi; 08-03-2008 at 02:48 PM.

  8. #8
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Ricciardi View Post
    I had no choice on the legs guys, he was almost in a trench of earth and due to the fact that I was in a kayak I couldn't get a higher angle to include the legs.
    Hi Paul, Ah, I see your confusion. Sorry for not being clearer. What we are looking for is for you to have included the virtual legs in the frame. In other words, even though the legs are partially hidden by the bank it is still the best plan (especially when the bird is small in the frame, it is best to include the virtual legs (as if you could see them) and then leave some room below them for a border.

    Does that make more sense?
    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.

    Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,

    E-mail me at samandmayasgrandpa@att.net.










Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics