Nikon D3 - 200/400 VR 1/1000 F5.0@iso 200
Black Skimmer
Nikon D3 - 200/400 VR 1/1000 F5.0@iso 200
Cool capture, details and reflection but I think it needs several degrees of CCW rotation.
Very nice skimming action captured. I like the lighting and reflection as well. My only suggestion would be to get rid off the spots in the water as its bit distracting.
Agree with Axel but wonderful exposure and superb action and eye contact. The skimming action is one of the best I have seen. Thanks for sharing.
Love the action but dislike the severe angle... Not sure if this was your intention or not. ...
Actually It was. So, I think you guys are saying it would look better with the stream parallel to the top and bottom, more or less?
Last edited by monte stinnett; 08-22-2008 at 12:04 AM.
Originally Posted by D. Robert Franz
I've seen photos of various kinds that have the images rotated like that. I've asked the photographers why they do that and none seems to state his/her reasons. I once even had one who commented that those who complain about the titled horizon or anything like that are those who have less or no talents.(guess he's right about me :o). How about you, Monte, why do you find the image looks better with the stream not parallel to the top and bottom?
Thanks!
I don't really have a strong opinion about it, and the placement of the stream wasn't relevant. I just felt that the bird looked more dynamic placed in the diagonal. I was just trying to clarify what you mean by your statement, If it didn't have a stream, do you think the diagonal placement would be good? Honestly, just trying to understand your viewpoint.
Not sure if you're asking me but I guess I could tell you what I think. I think that your image here is not the only one on this forum that is in some way tilted. Only that the other ones may not look that obvious to the viewers. Here's mine and it is tilted by about 45 degrees:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=13138
Guess it's not that obvious, huh? :D
I think the if your photo didn't have a stream, it would look a bit better but still people would find it titled because of the reflection, which our real life experiences would tell us something doesn't look right there.
BTW, I was told a lot of wind-surfing shots are tilted shots, too. Probably for the reason that you have: looks more dynamic. Those I've seen usually have the horizon occupies a very small part of the photos and the surfer pretty much takes up a lot of the space of the photo.
Then again, many other surfing shots are not titled, too.
Last edited by Desmond Chan; 08-20-2008 at 09:49 PM.
Excellent capture with razor sharp details and vibrant colors... :cool:
excellent shot, do as you wish with your tilt, if you like it, thats cool.
I would not put the stream parallell to the image, but if you line up the refection it would be cool.... work with the left side feathers, and move your crop line over, and rotate until it are parallel to the tips.... I am sure you know what to do.
I cannot say which I would like best until I see both, but I do like your crop you have here., awsome detail, and I also wonder if you added a catchlight.
I like the tilted angle. Nice out of the box shooting.
I'm not crazy about deliberate tilts, but I have to agree it looks quite dynamic this way here. I would still be interested in seeing a correctly rotated version though. Awesome trail, and the wing brushing the water too.
Raymond, no catch light added. I shot it about 8:30 AM. Do you mean put the reflection parallel to the bottom. How do I add a different photo? Daniel, I'm not sure what a correctly rotated version is? Do you mean with stream parallel to top and bottom? The stream could be at any angle depending on the angle that I shot it from. By correctly rotated would I be correct thinking in terms of the stream being the horizon or do you mean have the bird parallel to the top and bottom.
To adjust the reflection to "correctly" level it use the measure tool (under the eyedropper) and draw a line from the tip of the wing to the same spot on the reflection. Then choose from the menus 'Image' -> 'rotate canvas' -> 'arbitrary' and the correct angle will be entered to make the line vertical (in this case about 20.2 degrees CCW). This also works if you use the measure tool along a horizon to level things out. Here's an example and where to draw the line. (Sorry for the bad clone job on the water).
To add another picture choose "Go advanced" at the bottom of the comment box , then "Manage Attachements" like you do when you start a new thread.
Nice action you captured here. As far as the rotation goes, my first choice is probably the leveled version but the rotated one is interesting as well. It does give it a more dynamic feel but I keep tilting my head to look at it.
Last edited by Leroy Laverman; 08-21-2008 at 06:43 AM.
Thx Leroy I also like your version although I am not sure why that is the correctly rotated version. You have leveled the skimmer and reflection as a unit, which I guess would be the equivalent of a parallel horizon in a landscape.
In any event thx to all, I really appreciated the input.
Very nice image. The action and reflection are outstanding. I prefer the leveled version to the tilted version. I would also clone out the crud in the water.
Jim Neiger - Kissimmee, Florida
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Leroy's rotation looks level, and the trail is not parallel to the horizon so you still get the sense of the bird coming in. With the newly rotated version I would probably crop a bit at left and add some canvas at right, personal taste. Your thread has created lots of discussion...which is a good thing for all :-)
I like Leroy's edit, and tutorial, although I do not do it that way. The image looks proper now, as the reflection is a good guide for adjusting an image to be correct. I think the image looks plenty dynamic with a proper crop, and once again, great shot.
After looking at it a few times, I think I do like Leroy's version better. Thx again to all for the input.
This is a nice thread, and I like the the 2nd version better.
Daniel, the bird flying into the frame is our preferred view, but with Skimmers i have always found myself to like the opposite because i think the trail often makes the picture. Sometimes keeping the trail and space to the right makes the image feel unbalanced. I think this is a time where it works to break the rules.
cheers
I agree, the trail is an important part of the photo.
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