1-8 sec. Blur Too Early

[Arthur Morris]

We were out till after sunset on Midway today; this was my favorite.

Canon 400mm f/4 IS DO lens handheld. ISO 250. Evalautive metering +1 2/3 stops: 1/8 sec. at f/4.5. Manual flash at 1:1 (No Better Beamer.)

Don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Kora Baker]

Really love the colors in this artie, and the composition. But to my eye the blur is not blurred enough. I have no idea what kind of bird it is but it's head looks too big, and the wings look like they belong on a plane. Now you did say 'all comments welcome' :) Kora

[denise ippolito]

I like the colors and the diagonal position of the bird. They really do look huge!:)

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Art,

Greetings. The BG color contrast seems to really pop the subject and the overall composition is great... can't say that the differential blur from wingtip to wingtip works for me though. Perhaps, a tad less pan?

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Kora these are huge birds. (Albatross) Wing spans around 6 feet to help them ride the thermals in the ocean. For me just enough green to anchor the image and I like the position in the frame and the diagonals coming off the greenery.

[Arthur Morris]

Really love the colors in this artie, and the composition. But to my eye the blur is not blurred enough. I have no idea what kind of bird it is but it's head looks too big, and the wings look like they belong on a plane. Now you did say 'all comments welcome' :) Kora

All honest comments are always welcome. The bird is a Laysan Albatross. It's head is exactly the right size :) And yes, albatrosses are huge birds with long wings. When a bird is not flapping it will not blur very much; what I do like here is the pan-blurred BKGR. You can see how beautiful the head and face are here: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...d=1#post457597

Thanks for you comments.

[Arthur Morris]

Art,

Greetings. The BG color contrast seems to really pop the subject and the overall composition is great... can't say that the differential blur from wingtip to wingtip works for me though. Perhaps, a tad less pan? Cheers,
-Michael-

Hi Michael, I do not know what "differential blur" is so hard for me to work on it. As for the panning rate, I was simply attempting to pan with the bird :)

[Indranil Sircar]

Looks like one of those gliders from WWII! I like the wing position and enough definition of the albatross head. Beautiful pan blur bg.

[Kora Baker]

Thanks for the information that it's an albatross. That, and the beautiful photo via the link, explains everything. In inland Australia we naturally don't get to see anything like it! Superb. It's wonderful to know that they are breeding so profusely there. I believe in our southern oceans they are not faring as well. Though I know we lose a lot to long line fishing pursuits. Anyway, looking at the image through informed eyes gives it an entirely different persepective, and I can appreciate the beauty:) Kora

[Christopher Miller]

I like the colors and composition, Artie, though I might prefer a little more detail in the head area. Nice diagonals in the BG and the bird's wings.