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Thread: Yellow-Eyed Penguins

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Default Yellow-Eyed Penguins

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    On the South Island, New Zealand, we went to the Catlins - an absolutely magical location. While there in addition to obtaining some lovely landscapes these little guys - having a conference - remained basically in one location for several minutes on the other side of a small channel from where I was standing. I have vignetted the image to hide a lot of nasties and to isolate the penguins.

    What do you think they are saying to each other?

    Camera: 7D
    Capture date/time: 1 May 11; 6:09AM
    Light condition: overcast
    Lens: 70-200 f/4
    Focal length: 200
    Extender: none
    Distance: 24m
    Tube: none
    Flash/Comp: no
    ISO: 400
    Exp Prog: Tv
    Speed: 1/100 sec
    Aperture: f/3.2
    Exp Comp: None
    Metering: Evaluative
    WB: Auto
    AF Drive: AI Servo
    Tripod: yes
    Filter: None
    Crop: minimal
    Images Changes: stuff I didn't like removed!

    Processed in LR 3 and then CS5

    All C&Cs gratefully appreciated!
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Very nice and unusual image of a seldom seen species. Good job getting them all looking towards the camera. I also like the composition, with the little group "chatting" on the right and the single one on the left.
    Pity that the very dark, contrasting BG is a little overwhelming; I would crop a little from the left and top to concentrate the attention on the birds.

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    If it would hold up quality wise I think a crop of the three birds only would make this stronger and more appealing since there seems to be too many dark areas which add nothing. I do like the odd man out penguin Im just not sure if he works in this frame. Maybe going with more of a pano crop is a option too.

    I really like your subjects and the colors you rendered.
    Last edited by Mike Tracy; 06-18-2011 at 07:21 AM.

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    Very interesting and unusual subjects. And I like the composition.

    But the very dark background detracts from this image IMO. Could you go back to the RAW file and work on that a bit? And could it be that by processing this image in both LR3 and CS5, it may have been processed a tad too much?

    As for the crop, what you have here are three apparent buddies/partners and an observing bystander. I find that somewhat interesting, because in a sense the bystander adds balance. But since you say the crop was minimal, it might be good to at least take a look at the three amigos alone.

    Anyway, this photo is interesting!

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    BPN Member Don Lacy's Avatar
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    Hi Jay, I like the interaction between the Penguins and this is my first time seeing this species and they sure are very cool looking. with that said the overly darken BG does not work for me with the way the light is on the subjects the processed BG just does not look natural.
    Don Lacy
    You don't take a photograph, you make it - Ansel Adams
    There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs - Ansel Adams
    http://www.witnessnature.net/
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    Hi Jay... lovely composed image. I also haven't seen this species before and they really are cool looking. I would agree with others on shadows, it doesn't work for me either TFS

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Tracy View Post
    If it would hold up quality wise I think a crop of the three birds only would make this stronger and more appealing since there seems to be too many dark areas which add nothing. I do like the odd man out penguin Im just not sure if he works in this frame.
    Agree with Mike on this. I find the three birds much more interesting than any thing else in this frame.

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Hi, here is a crop eliminating most of the bkgr and putting the middle bird of the group on the 1/3 line. For me, this image tells a story. For birders, which we are, I am doing another RP of the three birds only.
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    The Dimension limits for this filetype are 1024 x 800. We were unable to resize your file so you will need to do so manually and upload it again. Your file is currently 800 x 836.
    This is ridiculous!

    I have to keep making it smaller and smaller.

    Which do you like better?
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Jay,
    These are killer birds!!!!!
    Nailed the exposure in a tough situation.

    IMO, the composition as posted would be close to perfect had the bird on the left been looking at the three on the right.
    I love the vision and creativity. Did you get any with the bird on the left looking at the birds on the right?

    James

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Hello Mate,

    I assume you too prefer the RP of the four birds.

    These guys stayed in one area for about 10 minutes and I blasted away and moved around. This was the best of the all of the images.

    In some ways the little guy on the left has several different tag lines: aloof, look-out, etc.

    And, if he (? - John care to take a shot at male or female) was looking towards the group: please let me in; what are they talking about?; are they talking about me?

    I am happy!!
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Co-Founder James Shadle's Avatar
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    I assume you too prefer the RP of the four birds.
    Not really. I prefer the original over the re-post. I like this one best.

    And, if he (? - John care to take a shot at male or female) was looking towards the group: please let me in; what are they talking about?; are they talking about me?
    You got it!

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    Lifetime Member Jay Gould's Avatar
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    Very interesting, Mate. Now I have to live with both the cropped and uncropped to decide.

    Others?
    Cheers, Jay

    My Digital Art - "Nature Interpreted" - can now be view at http://www.luvntravlnphotography.com

    "Nature Interpreted" - Photography begins with your mind and eyes, and ends with an image representing your vision and your reality of the captured scene; photography exceeds the camera sensor's limitations. Capturing and Processing landscapes and seascapes allows me to express my vision and reality of Nature.

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    Hard to say what is happening. Penguins often interact in groups and it really is impossible to tell who is who (unless everyone is banded).

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    Lovely capture Jay, I would love to go there someday. I'm digging the repost shots.

    Chad

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