Keep it or Trash it?

[Fabs Forns]

I need a reality check from you guys. The minute I saw this, I thought, shame, no eyes, delete. Full frame, nice wings and tail position, great shell. Then, I thought again. I try to keep a very open mind for judging images and tend to go for the off the beaten path most of the time. But one can get lost in the out of the box world and carry it too far.
My question is, since this was about the Gull and the shell being dropped top open it, does the picture tell the story? Do I HAVE to HAVE the eye for an image to work?

I'm including a poll so those of you that do not want to embarrass me :) can just vote.
I'd love to hear your comments, though, the why yes or why not of your verdict. And please look at it a few times, easier to make a decision ;)

I promise to take the results as an adult :cool: :D

Sky slight enhanced with Viveza, cropped for compo, Sanibel beach, last day of IPT.

Date: 2/15/10
Time: 4:46:17 PM
Model: Canon EOS 7D
Lens (mm): 170 (100-400)
ISO: 800
Aperture: 8
Shutter: 1/500
Program: Manual

[Myer Bornstein]

I replied undecided I like it but I wish the shell was either lighter or darker to distinguish the shell from the gull I had to really a second time to tell it was a shell

[Dave Leroy]

The photo has a nice feel to it. I like the symmetry with some areas in focus and other areas oof. However I find it a bit confusing about who has who so I voted to trash it. Certainly a bit of a profile of head, shell in beak and an eye would have been a lot easier for me. Dave

[Tony Whitehead]

I would keep it. The curved lines and colours of the shell and wings are too beautiful to trash. I see it more of a patterns of nature image than the story of the gull dropping the shell to open it.

[Bob Pelkey]

At your suggestion, I studied the shot for a long while, Fabs. My eye was not instantly drawn to the shell to begin with, and before it made it there, I think I had the thought something was wrong (simply with the head of the gull). Once there, I thought how neat to have captured the shell. The lack of a clear view of the bird's eye is not that big of a deal to me considering what you've got here. I do, however, dislike the sky. I think perhaps white (although I considered another blue) might make the image that much more appealing to me especially due to the well exposed light underbody of the bird. I'd find the contrast much more appealing. Keep it.

[Steve Maxson]

While it would be nice to see the eye, as a biologist, I would keep this as a behavioral image to perhaps use in combination with other similar images to illustrate this feeding behavior.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Fabs I voted against keeping it. If anyone who was not a birder or photographer would wonder what was going on here. MHO anyways:) If it had the eye...well then to me it would have been an absolute winner.

[Bill McCrystyn]

Hi cuz, I would let it go. If you were a beginner like me and needed material I might keep it BUT your a big time pro and you have better shots. The gull is a keeper, the shell getting in the way of the gull isn't. I wasn't sure what it was except you figured it out for me. I think (and I hate people that say this) if the shell had of been over to the right of the bird an inch, enough to see one eye, it would have made it. As it is, it's an obstruction. IMHO :D Billy

As Toyota sez - You asked for it, you got it! Oooooh, just couldn't resist that. Sorry everyone. :p

[Randy Stout]

Fabs:

I am not sure this can stand on its own. The "story" isn't clear from this single frame. If it was in a series showing the entire behaviour, it might fly. :) Other than the face being blocked, it is a very nice capture, but we are always looking for that 'special' shot, and for me, this isn't it.

Cheers

Randy

[Ian McHenry]

Hi Fabs
This is a cute image and the gull has a great tail.
However the reason to keep or otherwise is the shell/gull combination.
How about just a small keeper !!!!
Cheers: Ian Mc

[Dan Wolin]

Great wing spread and pose ( I voted undecided) but the shell is very hard to differentiate from the gull. Cool behavior shot - I have never seen a gull carry a shell so it is new for me.

[Steve Canuel]

I'd keep for interest's sake as part of a series. For me, your previous post is pleasing both artistically and interesting from a biological/behavioral viewpoint.

[arash_hazeghi]

would keep Fabs!!! nice and sharp and shows the behavior. Not going to the top but keeper.

[Nate Chappell]

I'd keep it for sure Fabs, the lack of the eye makes this more, not less, interesting imo. This image is all about the textures and subtle grays of both clam shell and gull feathers and I think it's very cool. It could also be seen as a Clam-headed Gull.:cool::cool:

[Markus Jais]

I would keep it. It really shows interesting behavior. Maybe someday you will need such a picture, for example, when someone writes a book about gulls or gives a talk about them.
Technically it is sharp and well exposed.
In the end you must decide. As long as you like it, keep it!

Markus

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Fabs, capturing this FF, and getting a full wingspread and fanned tail, makes this image on its own. IMHO, the shell in the beak is an added bonus, and there is a hint of the left eye. The shell has an interesting texture to it, so there's another plus. I would keep it.

[Bill McCrystyn]

Ok Fabs, I did what you asked and looked at it again this morning. If it were mine I can see why, as you said, I would want to keep it but the more I look at it and fully understand the image, the more I want to see the eye. I just can't get by that on this one. I still must say, close - but no cigar. Sorry. :(

[Fabs Forns]

Thanks everyone!

Mixed results, more to trash than keep looking at the poll.

More than anything else I wanted this to be an exercise in thinking a bit :)
Your honest comments very much appreciated.

[Bill McCrystyn]

No wonder I have a headache this morning. Thanks, Fabs. :)

[Manjesh Lingamurthy]

Hi Fabs

I would not keep it. I do not think it is able to tell the story of the bird dropping the shell to break it, as you cannot get the idea of the bird dropping the shell, beacuse of its closeness to the face with no separation. Very well exposed though with nice wing spread.

Manjesh :)

[paul leverington]

It's only good as a document shot IMO Fabs and in that venue I think it would have to be sandwiched in with others showing the drop or impact so the story is clear. This shot alone doesn't express that explicitly. The eye in there would have made it better either artistically or as a document. I think what I really like is how the shell mimics the patterns and color of the bird--that really rocks.

Paul