Rock Pipit

[john jackson]

Rock Pipit is a coastal bird that breeds on cliffs in NW Europe. It is a close relative of American, Buff-bellied and Water Pipits. It doesn't have the prettiest plumage, but it is a bird with character. I took this in North Wales this summer. It is a full-height vertical crop from a horizontal frame.

Canon 40D, 100-400mm, hand held, 1/250, f5.6, 800 ASA.

[Ben_Sadd]

John,

These are certainly nice birds. I find the angle a little steep. I think that cropping from the top would make the image as presented more pleasing. However, as it is already a vertical crop from horizontal, I would not crop more. I do wonder how the full frame looks and whether the surrounding are nice enough for it to pass as a bird in habitat. that is providing that the full frame has more space to the right.

[john jackson]

Hi Ben

Thanks for the comments. The bird was (typically for the species) very active so I needed to keep it central to keep it in focus and crop later. I think many people would crop it differently than I did, probably keeping bird on the left and making a landscape orientation. I felt that the space above and the OOF rock face gave a better sense of situation (I was on the beach and looking up). The over the shoulder stance of the bird seemed to me to mitigate the upward-pointing camera angle.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I got the privilege to photograph a Pipit last week, and I agree with you about this family of birds!:)

Judging form the full-frame I agree an horizontal would be good. Best I could come up with is the bird relatively small in the frame, and in ULC, and full ledge showing. I think it still retains a great sense of situation and personaly I think offers a stronger comp balance. Just an option. You could also crop more below to eliminate the additional white rock poking in, or clone it out (if you are into that type of image manipulation). What do you think?

[john jackson]

Thanks Daniel. I have an almost identical crop in my Aperture library, so yes I like it (lower rock stratum and all). Either or both suit me. Thanks for the consideration.

[Ben_Sadd]

Daniel's crop is also the way I would have gone with this too.

[Arthur Morris]

I like both the original and the reposted crop. Good job with the EXP and an interesting setting.

[john jackson]

Thanks Ben and Arthur