Boring or Beautiful?

[Aidan Briggs]

A Willet in winter plumage against a distant sand and sea BG. Very simple, but I love it. I do think that some people (especially non-photographers) might find it boring though. I would love to hear your opinions.

I love it when I find a bird cooperative enough for portraits with my 100-400 :) I love it even more if it is on an overcast day.

Handheld with the lens resting on the sand. Almost full frame.

50D, 100-400 at 350mm
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 250
fill flash at -2

[Steve Canuel]

I don't consider myself a photographer (or a bird lover either) but I do like animals and this is a nice simple portrait. Good detail, nice eye contact, and a pleasing transition of colors in the BG all add up to make this a nice image.

[Gal Shon]

I have to say, beautiful.
I think it will look even better with a bit more contrast.

[adrian dancy]

Certainly not boring. Lovely eye contact.

[Julie Brown]

Aidan, this is an excellent capture and a beautiful composition. I agree with your assessment-less is more.

[Keith Carver]

Elegant minimalist portrait, Aidan, well done. Good detail and eye contact and the gradient BG puts it over the top.

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Aidan, I like the soft light, and you managed to capture a perfect HA. Sharp, and the complimentary BG works well.

[Ryan Schain]

Great shot Aiden. No complaints here. I might brighten it up VERY slightly if it was mine (especially the iris), but other than that it's a fantastic portrait. Gotta love Willets.

[Dumay de Boulle]

I especially like the detail in the eye and the beak..Like the BG, would like to see a little more contrast, but thats personal.

[Tony Whitehead]

Lovely portrait with an alert pose, Aidan. Good use of flash. I'm wondering if raising the camera very slightly would have given a uniform BG. Agree with Gal that a touch more contrast would be worth a try.

[Doug Brown]

I think it's nice Aidan. I have a Sanderling photo that has a very similar look to it; I've always loved that image in spite of the lack of color. Just a simple photo, but one that works very well.

[Jim Fenton]

I like the simplicity a lot.

Head angle is fine..sharpness and exposure are right on.

What makes it for me is the low contrast conditions / presentation.

[Desmond Chan]

I do think that some people (especially non-photographers) might find it boring though.

Well, there is nothing to say that boring and beautiful cannot co-exist together and so, it is boring but it could be more beautiful :)

I agree with more contrast, less brightness and the colors could be a bit more saturated. Hence my attempt.

[Arthur Morris]

While this is no contest winner, I like it. It need a sliver of a crop from the bottom, just enough to lose the single black feather on the lower frame edge. It would also improve the COMP and the balance.

Got your article and pix. Will run it next week. Do you have a good picture of you smiling (with or without a camera in your hand)?

[Arthur Morris]

ps: I did not see Desmond's repost but I like it better :) Still needs the crop from the bottom.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Aidan, like this a lot. Portrait shots at 400mm are not easy. I did take some winter plumage willet shots this year in overcast conditions. struggled with the contrast as well. I like Artie's suggestion of crop.