Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Galapagos #5/Big Boy Landing

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

    Default Galapagos #5/Big Boy Landing

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    This landing Waved Albatross was photographed with the handheld Canon 400mmm f/4 IS DO lens and the EOS-1D MIII. ISO 500. Evaluative metering off the light grey sky +2 2/3 stops was about +2/3 off the image as framed: 1/1600 sec. at f/4.

    This was my sixth Galapagos cruise but was the very first chance that I had to photograph this huge bird landing. :)

    Don't be shy' all comments welcome.

    ps: Added a bit of canvas left from the next frame. Cropped from the right.
    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.










  2. #2
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Artie:

    Nice landing pose, sharp, great feet, exposure control.

    I thought the bird might pop a bit more from the fairly similarly bright background with a little midtone correction for the background only. I excluded the bird, and brought the mid tone slider for the rest of the image down a bit.

    Of course you were there, and know what look you are after, but from my seat, I thought this might be a useful option.

    Can't wait until 2011.

    Randy

  3. #3
    Publisher Arthur Morris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Indian Lake Estates, FL
    Posts
    32,506
    Threads
    1,433
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks for the repost Randy. It was a lazy hazy day so the OP better represents what I saw. That said I increased the contrast and added blacks to the blacks and neutrals in Selective Color about eight times just to get to the first post. In your version the BKGR is just a bit too contrasty for me (but good work).
    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.










  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    274
    Threads
    71
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I hesitate to criticize at all, especially given the rarity and difficulty of making such an image. Exposure, focus, pose, etc. all are spot on. However, the background is busy, and distracts attention from the bird. I notice this particularly where the edge of a background rock intersects the beak. Also, the sharp focus on the foreground rocks draws my eye. I'd suggest darkening the background and possibly applying some blur to the foreground. Just my 2 cents worth (or maybe even less :-).

    Bill

  5. #5
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,672
    Threads
    216
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like the environment, it is what it is... possibly a frame taken a split second earlier would offer more seperation, but this is a very nice flight shot Artie, well done.

  6. #6
    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    SW Michigan
    Posts
    14,112
    Threads
    820
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks Artie:

    I always like the back story to an image like this, helps me understand the presentation. I suspect it is really bright there, and add in a bit of haze, and it looks just like your post.

    Randy

  7. #7
    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 BillTyler View Post
    I hesitate to criticize at all, especially given the rarity and difficulty of making such an image. Exposure, focus, pose, etc. all are spot on. However, the background is busy, and distracts attention from the bird. I notice this particularly where the edge of a background rock intersects the beak. Also, the sharp focus on the foreground rocks draws my eye. I'd suggest darkening the background and possibly applying some blur to the foreground. Just my 2 cents worth (or maybe even less :-). Bill
    Thanks Bill. The only thing that bugs me is the spot that you mentioned where the edge of a BKGR rock intersects the beak. I am happy with the sharpness on the eye and face and considering that I have never seen an image of this bird landing I am pretty happy with it.

    As they come in low and nest in the rocks all landing shots will by necessity feature rocky BKGRs.
    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.










  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 Randy Stout View Post
    Thanks Artie: I always like the back story to an image like this, helps me understand the presentation. I suspect it is really bright there, and add in a bit of haze, and it looks just like your post.
    Randy
    YAW. The best news about the clouds and haze was that we got to photograph at a great place for 6 1/2 hours. Thats just one of the advantages of going to the Galapagos with Juan and me.... The tourist boats spend about two hours on the landing....
    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.










  9. #9
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    2,173
    Threads
    219
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely wing position, soft light, and HA. IMO the original is much better, as the repost is much too contrasty for me. I would prefer a more distant BG, but I'm guessing you couldn't get any lower.

    Well Done!

  10. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Long Island NY
    Posts
    124
    Threads
    82
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I Like the way it includes the habitat.

  11. #11
    Lifetime Member Markus Jais's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Bavaria (Germany)
    Posts
    1,677
    Threads
    82
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful flight shot of this amazing species. I like the soft light and the details in the feathers. Great wing pose.
    I like the environment. It shows the birds nesting habitat.

    Markus

  12. #12
    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    In the whole wide world!
    Posts
    2,788
    Threads
    332
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post
    Artie:

    Nice landing pose, sharp, great feet, exposure control.
    I thought the bird might pop a bit more from the fairly similarly bright background with a little midtone correction for the background only. I excluded the bird, and brought the mid tone slider for the rest of the image down a bit. Of course you were there, and know what look you are after, but from my seat, I thought this might be a useful option.

    Can't wait until 2011. Randy
    Randy, the contrast that you have brought up in the rocks make them stand out almost as much as the bird; as such they overpower the bird. I prefer the OP.

    Jackie and I had a giggle about your statement "can't wait untill 2011" because I am passing on 2010 since we will be in the Galapagos diving in April 2010. Jackie goes to Melbourne for several weeks each year without me to visit her daughter; we have tentatively agreed that she is making the trip to coincide with Artie's 2011 trip. I can fly Sydney - Quito; Artie/Randy hopefully see you both in the Galapagos in 2011. :D
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

  13. #13
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    New Brighton, UK
    Posts
    568
    Threads
    174
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Artie

    I prefer the original post out of the two photos here as the second brings in the background too much. The background does not both me here as being too busy, afterall its a bird in its habitat and colours of bird and background compliment each other whilst the bird still remains obvious. I like the landing pose with the stretched wings and feet.

    cheers

    Rich

  14. #14
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Córdoba, Spain
    Posts
    3,099
    Threads
    211
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Cool pose and nice soft light. I like Randy´s suggestions a lot. The BG is very distracting and it doesn´t help for a good isolation of the main subject but sometimes distracting BG works very fine for me and this is a good example. Don´t ask me why because I am not sure, but I like the matching of colours and textures between the bird and the rocks. I would crop part of the light blue area at the top of the frame

  15. #15
    Forum Participant Joe Senzatimore's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    new york
    Posts
    3,509
    Threads
    524
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    So now you know what some of the problems are at Nickerson. Tough light and BG's. This is a great moment captured, and probably not an easy one , but , and I mean no dis -respect , this is not one of your best artfull images. I still would love to have it as my own , but I think one of the worlds leading bird photographers(you) could improve on this , given the time to do so. But the bottom line is you got it and I don't:lol:

  16. #16
    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 Joe,

    re:

    So now you know what some of the problems are at Nickerson. Tough light and BG's.

    I have been to Nickerson and have never noted any rocks there, just sand and water, two of my favorite BKGRs. As for the light, overcast/cloudy bright is my favorite lighting condition for the Galapagos. At Nickerson I prefer the same or sweet late afternoon light. I did not have much luck on my one morning visit, but heck, it's a long way from Florida.

    This is a great moment captured, and probably not an easy one , but , and I mean no dis -respect , this is not one of your best artfull images.

    I agree that it is not a wall hanger, but I very much like it.

    I still would love to have it as my own , but I think one of the world's leading bird photographers(you) could improve on this , given the time to do so.

    Considering that this was my sixth Galapagos cruise, and considering that you can only get on Hood--the only place in the world where they breed--for one morning on each cruise, and considering that I have never before been in position to photograph one landing on their rocky nesting grounds, your thinking is likely off base.

    But the bottom line is you got it and I don't:lol.

    Another difference is that I like it a lot. But that's difference is fine with me.

    Lately it seems that if I post an image, especially a stong behavioral image, that is not a potential BBC winner, folks are disappointed. I love that I am being held to such a high standard, but if I entered only my BBC honored images I would only have six images to post.

    As I said above, I have never seen an image of this species landing....
    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.










  17. #17
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    274
    Threads
    71
    Thank You Posts

    Default Idea, Maybe Dumb

    Quote Originally Posted by Arthur Morris View Post
    As they come in low and nest in the rocks all landing shots will by necessity feature rocky BKGRs.
    While reading this, it occurred to me that there might be a way of getting an even lower viewpoint IF the birds are extremely predictable in their flight paths. If you were to place a high-quality (first surface) mirror on the ground, and shoot the reflection, it would be the optical equivalent of having the lens and camera underground with just the tip of the lens barrel showing. For this to work at all would require a good-sized very high quality mirror (first surface mirrors are the only way to avoid double reflections, but they are easily damaged), very predictable flight paths, and birds that were not spooked by their reflections. Just a thought.

    Bill

  18. #18
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Argentina
    Posts
    4,234
    Threads
    215
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    It works and although, yes, BG could be better, it works nicely, the species, natural moment and detail are great IMO.

    Now just to play.. what woud this look like without the horizon and only rocks in the BG?

    Congratulations!

  19. #19
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Leiden, The Netherlands
    Posts
    1,020
    Threads
    148
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    For me this works very nicely. A nice environmental shot of a very very beautiful species! love the wingposition and the feet and although this BG isn't ideal it gives a really nice sence of surroundings. If this were mine I would maybe try to either use lens, gaussian or an selective avarage blur (handy to neutralise the shadows on the rocks) on the BG or a mix of the three of them. Would keep the horizon exactly where it is, as in a shot like this it tells you somthing about its surroundings as well.

    Cheers,

    Krijn

  20. #20
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Bangalore, Karnataka
    Posts
    3,800
    Threads
    236
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great Image Guru, Loved the wing spread and details. I some how love natural settings like these. shows the birds habitat well.. may be a little lower angle would work better.. congrats...

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