Cleared for landing
OK. I spend a lot of time trying to nail the eyes. I got such a laugh out of the antics of this Neotropic Cormorant. Does the fact that his back is to us make it worthless?
Canon 7D
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 @ 210mm
f/14 @ 1/1250sec ISO 800
Thanks for looking.
Ian
This one work for me, because it gives the feeling of a landing bird missing the stop line and trying hard to break :D which does bring a smile to my face. The details in the black look nice too.
Thanaboon, thanks for that! That's what had me laughing as I watched him and I was hoping the image transmitted that feeling.
I like it!!!
Great framing, two water plops and still going!!! Tail dragging water for additional braking!!!
Tom
Thanks, Tom. He thinks he is almost ready to attempt a carrier landing :)
Originally Posted by Ian Cassell
Errrr...to me it's not gonna be a keeper. But it could just be me :)
Hi - Im gonna go against the grain also - Not a keeper for me either.
:)
Not a keeper for me as well. The action you have captured here can be shot much more effectively from an angle which better shows the head and eyes. I know this is the shot you usually get because the birds are fleeing from you.
Joe
Hi Ian, First off I feel your asking if the image is worthless is unfair. There must have been something you liked about it for you to post it. If there is a part that you liked it's worth something to you,the final arbitor.
The image is not an award winner but it is a not so common view of a landing and is done well technically. The water splashes provide interest and a line to the bird.
I don't think anyone should make the judgement on the worth of an image....
i agree with dave, the idea of an image having value can only really be met by the person taking it.
Ok, its not going to win any awards. But i have a few pics like this that i like for various reasons and the only person who can give something any value is the author.
Personally i like these kind of images, its a little different and sometimes you get another story from the image from these which interests me
techs are well done
Pete
Hi Ian Will give you my opinion not base on you liking or disliking the image ... just me !!!
I like it and would keep it, you framed the bird well, have the water trailing behind which adds interest, great detail in the feathers (well exposed/sharp) ... so it works for me !
How to improve .... about the same but a vertical crop with more room up front .. btw vertical in camera :) I guess I like different when well done ... but always keep in mind a said above, with these type you will have different responses and need to go with what "you" like !!
Hi Ian Will give you my opinion not base on you liking or disliking the image ... just me !!!
I like it and would keep it, you framed the bird well, have the water trailing behind which adds interest, great detail in the feathers (well exposed/sharp) ... so it works for me !
How to improve .... about the same but a vertical crop with more room up front .. btw vertical in camera :) I guess I like different when well done ... but always keep in mind a said above, with these type you will have different responses and need to go with what "you" like !!
... btw I would not like seeing cormorants landing right into me all the time :)
Thanks, all, and yes I guess "worthless" was a poor choice of words. As I think you figured out, I was wondering if you would ever keep something like this, and you addressed that admirably. As Dave mentioned, I do like it, but I like others to look at and enjoy my photography as well and it is good to have a framework into which I can put images that please me but will not please others. You folks are great for teaching me that!
I still like it.
Perhaps with a bit more Photoshop-
.
.
Tom
sorry, I'll apologize in advance
I love it!
My opinion. Please don't take this wrong. I'm trying to help. I would delete it, but thats me. I wouldn't say because it is worthless, its worth lies in the fact it may very well help you become a better photographer. Thats got to be worth something! Why delete(after you have learned as much from it as possible)? Its not that its back is to us. Here is my reasoning:
1)High contrast light-dark detailess shadows. Direct sunlight is rarely good for bird photography, especially when the sun is overhead. Overcast, cloudy days are best.
2) not enough feather detail-and I don't mean its not sharp. It is. Detail and sharpness are different. Detail has alot to do with how close the subject is. If you are showing the top of the wings during take off or landing it is best if there is considerable detail- like feathers performing their functions. Needs to be closer to the action.
3)Head angle-I am not obsessed about head angles, but part of a bill, or eye would be nice! A backward glance is perfectly acceptable, but I contend not absolutely necessary.
4Too much dead space. Cropping is rarely an option; it adds no detail as you would expect when closer, besides it
wrecks havock on image quality.
5)composition: mostly centered subject here. What would work is a diagonal splash trail from lower left corner leading to the subject in upper right area. The wings could also be leveled in post-processing
6)F14 is overkill. A partially or completely blurred background best.
7)Viewing angle, if at all possible, needs to be lower. Crouching usually works.
8) Likelyhood of being able to take a similar shot with same bird species with improvements? Very likely, common bird with very common behavior. No great loss in deleteing.
Why I like particular images? See 1-7 above. I've included an image taken a few days ago of a GBH with its back to us, but showing wing detail and a view of the head. IMHO the top of the wing detail compensates nicely for what some would consider a very bad head angle!
SonyA700~Sony70-400G@400mm~ISO1250~F6.3~1/2000 sec~manual exposure~HH~5-8-2010~ Quintana, Texas~CS4
regards~Bill
Hi Ian. Here is my two cents from the perspective of my personal experience as a photographer and as a BPN member. What I have learned here on BPN has been invaluable. Posting images and offering critiques of other's images has pushed me to "see" differently. Image making is a process, and we are all at different levels. I think the intrinsic value of any particular image to the photographer is going to depend on a number of factors that will change over time. As your skill improves, your expectations for your images will also change. The first capture of a new species, or a new pose or behavior is exciting, and gives us an emotional connection to that image. That is a reason to keep it, at least until you get a better one.:)
Great 8-point critique offered by Bill!:D
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