Bad HA

[Lance Peters]

Can a bad HA every be any good???
Have this one with a good HA as well - but this just seems to have more character.

D3
Nikon 200-400VR with 1.7X Converter
F8
1/100th
800 ISO
SB900 ITTL FP @ -.07
Matrix Metering
Handheld whilst lying on ground

All opinions welcome!!!!!!!!

[Colin Driscoll]

I think HA crit can be a bit mis-directed at times. Sometimes birds look better when just doing their thing rather than always appearing aware of the photgrapher. I like how this bird is looking at something other than the photographer and that it is perched on one foot. To me the weakness of the shot is that the tail and wings are not visible.

[Lance Peters]

I think HA crit can be a bit mis-directed at times. Sometimes birds look better when just doing their thing rather than always appearing aware of the photgrapher. I like how this bird is looking at something other than the photographer and that it is perched on one foot. To me the weakness of the shot is that the tail and wings are not visible.

You could be right about the tail and wings Colin - I do have the same shot with all the normal requirements as well ;)

[Dave Barnes]

Lance is this not the same image:
http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=45290 ?

[Lance Peters]

yes - wanted to see what the wider opinion of the avian group thought - many of the folks in Avian don't venture over to ETL to often :)

[Michael Zajac]

I like the crisp details and the HA isn't ideal but the image has merit.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Having the very same image, but with the head angled slightly towards us instead would have given you a clear winner. As is I personally consider it an "almost" image.

Colin: I have never considered a head angle a few degrees towards us as the same as if the bird was looking at the photographer - you would need a face-to-face image for that, and those are rarely flattering anyways (except for owls).

BTW...great perch and BG!!

[John Chardine]

I agree with Daniel- I've never interpreted eye-contact or a good HA as the bird looking at you. This is a stunning image but for a 10-20° CW turn of the head!

[Ilija Dukovski]

The bird looks great, perch too, but in this case I think a good HA would make the image.
Sometimes a bird looking completely away from the camera at a sharp angle looks great too,
but that is not the case here.

[Raymond Barlow]

Spectacular image Lance, the background colours clash a bit with the bird, but they sure make things interesting. The HA doesn't bother me at all., great look at the beak.

[David Fletcher]

Striking shot Lance. On my monitor the blacks look blocked ,but that's pretty minor. Understanding what Daniel said about the HA, I too understand Colin's point too, and feel it is not critical. Tail absence doesn't bother me, so well done.

[Ramon M. Casares]

But not THAT bad, lovely species, great perch, BG, detail, light, colors and sharpness! Congratulations!