What's wrong here?

[Lance Peters]

Another one from the pile of not quite right - What I was aiming for was a HSS Flash blur.

So were did I go wrong?? What is the major issue for you with this shot??

D3
Nikon 200-400 VR @ 400MM
F7.1
1/1250TH
800 ISO
0 EV
Matrix Metering
SB900 With better beamer @ -1 2/3
Tripod

Let em rip :)

[Cheryl Flory]

Lance, what is a HSS flash blur?

[Lance Peters]

Hi Cheryl - High Speed Sync - Its a flash setting that lets you use your flash at over the normal flash sync speed with a corresponding loss of flash output power depending on the shutter speed.
Has advantages and dis-advantages due to the way it works - outputs a continuous light beam for the whole time the shutter is open - makes it difficult to FREEZE action - has a blurring type effect on movement.
:)

[Cheryl Flory]

oh, so you want a brightly light, but still blurred to show movement????

To me, the issue with the photo is that it does not engage the viewer as well as your images usually do. It has very nice HA, but the eye is not looking at the camera, so I do not feel drawn to, or a connection to the subject.

If you are going for movement blur, then I would probably want to see more, but to me, the bigger issue is that the bird's feet appear to be on the ground. Not a place where I expect them to be with movement in the wings where I usually expect it to happen in flight.

I think the sharpness and details on the front of the bird, its face, and under the foreground wing are great! But for me, the image just doesn't "reach out and grab me" as much as your images usually do, and I think that is due to the higher angle, above the gannet's eye.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Mr. Peters, I respectfully reserve my comments, and will let our brothers and sisters participate...:):cool:

[Desmond Chan]

I think the question is about how to create flash blur,...

I think that's exactly what he's got here. And, "What's wrong?" I think he has also answered that.

[Alfred Forns]

Interesting thread and lots of good information !!!!!!

[Harold Davis]

i think with the flash set at -1.7EV, even with the beamer at that focal length wasnt enough power to do anything for you. maybe 0EV would have been the ticket?

[Lance Peters]

For me - there was not quite enough blur - adjustable in numerous ways. Also the composition is way off for my tastes - Bird was coming in to land - One thing to keep in mind - will land into the wind - however I could not get into any better position as the side of the cliff was getting very close.