Hi Everyone!
Another offering from Florida, this time from Wakodahatchee Wetlands. I guess this one makes a change from high-key sanderlings...:D
40D 300 f2.8 + 2x
F 5.6 1/1250
ISO 400
Exp comp -1
Tweaked with levels in CS4.
Look forward to your thoughts!
Best regards,
Nicki
Anti high-key...that's a real departure for you Nicki! I like the rim light effect in this image, and I also like the upturned head. My eye is drawn to the bright area between the two mandibles about 2/3 of the way over on the left; I might darken that a bit.
Awesome Nicki,
There is light in all the right places. I bet you saw this opportunity from a mile off. A lot of photographers would walk right past this sort of situation but you have captured it beautifully.
A bit more canvas on top would not go astray.
I would maybe lose that little bit of light shining through mid-beak but other than that it is spot on. Well done.
Very creative and very nice too! I think you would actually get away with making it a smidgeon darker, or maybe just tone down the brightest bit of the breast? Very well done.
Hi Guys! :)
Thanks so much for all your very kind words and suggestions. I have darkened the bright spot between the mandibles as you suggested - is this better?
Best to all,
Nicki
Yes, the repost is an improvement with the much "cleaner" bill. I would still love to see a bit more room above, but an all-around outstanding and creative image. Very enjoyable to look at!!
Hi Niki! Well this is so cool! What it reminds me of in a way, is of super simplified drawing where the subject is only just suggested through what they call "economy of line". Used sometimes for logos and such where a minimalist ammout of line is used to suggest something, and let the viewer fill in the blanks--artists drawing the figure use the method to do quick character captures of the human body for example. The idea is to have a little bit of line here on this side of the leg and a little bit of line on the other side--back and forth it goes. This shot so reminds me of that.
My take here is that the viewers eye will bounce back and forth, right to left, left to right and continue to do so as it travels up the frame, but gets thrown "out of step" when we reach the underside of the neck. My thoughts are to tone that area down-- maybe partially out. Then the rest of the journey moves on from there perfect and in rythm. The big thing here is I feel you need an eye. Even if it is just the subtlest rendition of one--but one that would catch a fairly good glint would be totally overwhelmingly powerful. My feelings are that it's a little too non-descript what we are looking at. Do you have anything for an eye in your tiff you can bring up out of the shadows?
This is excellent art Niki--I really love it a lot... lotsa great lessons too..
Paul
Last edited by paul leverington; 10-15-2009 at 10:48 PM.
Hello Everyone and thank you so much for all the comments and suggestions - they are all very much appreciated. I agree that adding canvas will strenghten the composition and I shall go back to the original when I have a moment and experiment with the eye. Must admit that this idea never occured to me - looking forward to trying it out!
Best regards to all,
Nicki
Dougs right--I think you have to try this one and make a judgemnet call after you see what it looks like. I felt that way too when I was writing my other post. Nothing ventured nothing gained so try some options I was thinking. As great as the original shot was I did have a feeling it needed a little more of something--the hard part is always what that something should be.
Hi Nicki,
A little late to the party myself but will chime in with something not mentioned.
First I will say that I love the comp and even I who likes them tight feel the added canvas will help. The curves are just outstanding. I don't feel this will benefit from the eye....but that is just my opinion......what I will recommend that no one mentioned......is just bring up a few areas with a bit of dodging.....where the back of the neck meets the body....and the front of the breat.......a small brush at low opacity should accentuate the line even further and help with a bit more seperation. Let me know your thoughts if you re-visit this one.
I think this is an outstanding comp and beautiful use of rim lighting!
Hello Harshad, Paul and Roman!
Wow, I am so enjoying all the new friends that I am making during this thread!!
Paul, I shall definitely play with a version that includes an eye - as you say, nothing ventured...
Roman, I think that you make a very good point with the idea of some selective dodging. I must admit that I did play around with varying amounts when I originally worked on the picture and I do think that that it would work fine. My only wish was to not overdo the separation so that the image became neither one thing nor the other. It would be so easy for the delicate nature of the rim lighting to be over-powered. But when I revisit the original I shall try out your suggestion for sure.
Thanks so much for the ideas and input.
Best regards,
Nicki
Last edited by Nicki Gwynn Jones; 10-16-2009 at 10:04 AM.
Reason: Add text...
this is a mind blowing presentation .. superb creative vision display here. not just a creative vision but a pure creative implimentation.
for the frame i like the beak point starts with pure orange and get vanish halfway. what a sharp blade. next the fur portion over the neck with some light give's me touchy feelings.
i would just look for some addition space on verticle. Square crop (not my personal choice)
dont mind adding blank space to top for verticle feel.
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