Penguins after the storm

[Charles Glatzer]

This image is copyrighted material as indicated, and is watermarked! Unauthorized use or reproduction for any reason is prohibited

Falklands '08

This was taken on my belly just after the 60 mph wind gusts subsided.

1D Mark III, 70-200mm @ 153mm
Manual, incident, 1/1000 @ f/5.6, ISO 400
Post-production- ARC 5.2, CS4

See you where there is light, or at the computer

Best,

Chas

[Alexander Koenders]

Wonderfull done and a great moment i guess?

[Arthur Morris]

Looks as if the birds needed to go for a swim before having their picture taken.

[Aidan Briggs]

Nice soft light and I like the breaking wave in the BG. I think it might look better with a bit more space on both sides, and a slice cropped off the top.

[Art Kornienko]

Not much to change on this one, but Artie's right, if they had gone for a swim, it would have been that much better. The colours are quite complimentary and the crop is excellent.

[Charles Glatzer]

Not much to change on this one, but Artie's right, if they had gone for a swim, it would have been that much better. The colours are quite complimentary and the crop is excellent.

Better, or different? So you guys are telling me we should only shoot subjects that are clean and pristine...so much for documenting behavior in the Natural world.
Guess you guys did not like March of the Penguins, watch Blue Planet, etc. The images taken of clean penguins shortly thereafter tell a different piece of the story, not a better one.

Ridiculous if you ask me!!!!!!!!!!!

Chas

[James Shadle]

Chas,
When offering images for critique, it is a good idea to explain the thought process that went into creating the image as well as the technical data.

If your goal was to document dirty penguins, caused by wind driven sand you have a winner.
If your goal was fine art, this image IMO won't cut the mustard.

Photographing natural history, habitat and behavior images are as important as artistic portraits.

Help the person offering you a critique by stating what you were trying to say or create.

James

[Krijn Trimbos]

Hi Chas,

I like it a lot! Love the group and moment captured. Like the sea colour a lot as well. I wonder would you have any of them actually being in the storm or didn't you dare going there as sand is **** for the equipment?

[Mike Lentz]

I'm into image tones and I like the soft tones of this image.

[Charles Glatzer]

Chas,
Help the person offering you a critique by stating what you were trying to say or create.
James

James,

Sounds obvious to me "This was taken on my belly just after the 60 mph wind gusts subsided."

Chas

[Norm Dulak]

Charles:

How refreshing to see your image of the penguins, showing as it does some of the hardship the birds encounter in living their lives. There is plenty of room for pristine birds posed in just-so positions. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing a touch of the reality of nature to your viewers. Thanks for sharing this image.

Norm Dulak

[Charles Glatzer]

Hi Chas,

I like it a lot! Love the group and moment captured. Like the sea colour a lot as well. I wonder would you have any of them actually being in the storm or didn't you dare going there as sand is **** for the equipment?

I have them in the full gail force, being the only one to stay out and brave the storm. I was in a full Gore-tex suit and my equipment in a Think Tank Hydrophobia cover. I will try to post an image before I head out.

Chas

[Fabs Forns]

I would have loved to be there next to you, being fond of extreme weather as a way to get unique images. Of course, you need to make sure your equipment is protected as it was in your case.
BTW, I think Artie was being humorous.

Looking forward to crossing paths with you in May and go for the wasabi ;)

[Arthur Morris]

I love extreme weather too and have often been the only one out in a storm. (while all of the clients were hiding in the va...) While the image surely depicts some dirty penguins, and the grouping is nice, there are several things about the image that bother me:

1-The line of the breaking waves touches the heads of two penguins.
2-There are several serious merges with one bird blocking another.
3-The birds are looking in various directions.

Sometimes we fall in love with an image because of the great difficulty we endured while capturing it. I have done that many times. I do feel that this image is not representative of your best work. That said, you know how much I respect you both as a photographer and an instructor.

Again, have a great trip.