Papagayo

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

As part of Fabs' Macro class, we went to Butterfly World (just north of Miami) a few weeks ago. It was my first time there, and I wasn't crazy about the butterflies, so I was happy to find a group of colorful parrots they have there, which I thought were more interesting subjects. The BG was lousy, though, so I had to shoot wide open to blur it, which explains the shallow DOF.

D3S, 70-200 f/2.8 (at 200mm), HH
ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/3200
PP in PS CS5 and Nik (sharpen, NR)

Your comments are welcome.

[Don Railton]

Hi Ricardo

I love the "non standard" pose here and the bright colors. Good eye contact and the lack of DOF does not bother me at all. Not sure how it might be improved, so I will wait for those with more skill to comment...

Don

[Rachel Hollander]

Ricardo - agree with you about the BG but like the unusual pose. Good color and detail too.

TFS,
Rachel

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

Thanks, Don and Rachel, I appreciate your comments.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Ricardo It is an interesting a fresh corp, appealing and like it !!! Nothing wrong with shallow dof as long as you have a razor sharp eye, just fine !! Well processed and exposed. Imagine that guy was right after the bridge? .. if possible would try moving slightly to have an even density bg.

btw the Bflies are fun but very difficult at that place. Need to go with the right frame of mind and ready to battle the heat, like it much better in winter !! Have shot there a lot and it is difficult coming up with keepers .. still keep going back !!

[Dave Mills]

Hi Ricardo, I believe you handled this well. I've also been there a few times and have enjoyed photographing them. As Al stated I like the sharp eye which is a key element. The preening pose is also a plus. The backround appears very muted and neutral.
Another option would be to crop a bit from the right to the center of the larger darkened blue feather. Either way would work...

[Lance Peters]

Hi Ricardo - Love the colours - sharp and like the DOF, Sharp were it needs to be.
When I first looked at it - thought the eye was too centered - but could not come up with a better crop.
Think you have done very well.
Good show:)

[Harold Davis]

i really like this!! you handled the bg situation well and the composition is spot on. nice job!!!

[Ricardo Rodriguez]

Thank you, guys. You're right, Al, the heat was brutal, and getting keepers of butterflies is not easy. Like Dave and Lance suggest, I also considered cropping from the right to move the eye away from the center, but decided against it in the end.