Saturday, February 10, 2007
LBBG on Redington Beach
Thank you for the opportunity to join this excellent group. My photography has been mainly nature-oriented -- many birds and insect closeups. I look forward to expanding and experimenting, -- getting opinions on a variety of images through participation here.
For my first post I was tempted to put up an image that I already know Colin likes, resisted that, and put one up taken only a week ago. Lessor Black-backed Gull is quite rare around here, so as a birder, I was pleased to see and photograph my first just ten minutes from home. I'm curious to know if the photo holds any interest to others for whom this may be a common bird and/or who may not share my attraction to birds.
Permalink / posted by and copyright of Christina : 5:15 PM
Comments:
Christina,
Welcome to Stills.
I'll come back to the Black Back later. That sea looks gray enough to be Scottish!
Welcome to Stills and if Birds and Insects are your thing then I am going to have some fun in commenting on your images!
I start with the premise that the only good Lilac Breasted Roller is a dead one! :-) When helping with selection for club comps I have to not comment on nature pictures because I seem to have very minority views.
Saying that I did make a special trip to London to see the Wild Life Photographer of the Year Exhibition!
So having said all that what can I say about this?
The format matches the waves and foam to create a feeling for the environment without swamping the bird. Not a usual nature pic!
:-)
PS
I am just preparing my images for a nature comp! The judge is a chap called Phil Green, it is partly his influence that has led to my view of nature photography at club level. I am not expecting to do well!
These are the three I have so far. 1 2 3 One more to find!
Thanks for the heads up, Rex! Since participating for some time in a nature photography forum, I've been looking for different ideas and directions, (which is part of what led me here) so welcome your "minority" view.
As for your nature images, I think you might be sruprised and do quite well with the "Best of Friends" image.
Welcome Christina.
I'm not much of a birder, but there's something about a well executed bird photo that always makes me a bit jealous. It seems a pursuit that would necessitate a high level of patience and skill.
The above sample is an excellent image. It's well balanced and that touch of black in the eye provides good contrast to an otherwise monochromatic image.
Cropping to a nearly pano aspect ratio suits this image well, but I'd be tempted to take it bit farther, take another 10% off the top and bottom perhaps?
And a big welcome from me too Christina. If a bird comes my way, I'll take it but I lack the dedication necessary to take great pictures. We have someone in our local photo society who can be relied upon to fulfil the 'natural history' section in any competition.
As to this picture, it has delicate colouring plus sharpness in the right places, although, in contrast to Matt, I wouldn't crop any more but would move it up an equivalent distance to lose the 'bar' beneath your watermark. Overall, the format reminds me of the printed letterheads some people (companies) use - Matts suggestion would take it more that way. The strength of the picture is as much in the water as in the gull (is it lesser or lessor?), particularly the rush of the water over its feet. Having visited Florida a number of times in the '80s (on business), I can recall the sensation well! It was probably the last time I swam in the sea.
Welcome to Stills Christina. A few years back I used to so a lot of bird photography so its going to bring back memories looking through your work.
This is technically excellent. Sharp eye and detail in the plumage. Good background environment to provide location. The bird is just a little too static - perhaps a slightly open bill or different leg positioning would help. His gaze is out of the shot to the right - a slight cock of the head perhaps? But then these models don't take well to direction. I'm very impressed with the angle of view. Very low to the ground to give a bird's eye level.
Thank you, Guy. I know just what you mean -- this is the photo I would probably post to the birds forum (and it does show more of this bird's true personality!):
http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/2060681/1/128110362
But I decided on the more static one for this forum because I preferred the water/scenic quality of it.
It is the angle of view that makes this (so, thanks for the dedication and patience) - it creates the opportunity for the horizontal lines which frame the bird so well. The static quality doesn't worry me at all. After all gulls spend a lot of time standing around waiting for the next food opportunity. Sure, they shout a lot too, but it is the watching and waiting that I really associate with beach gulls (now does that photographer have a tasty sandwich or not?).
John: is this what you mean by a bird coming your way? (LINK)
Colin - not quite: this requires anti-aircraft defences! But glad to see the E-1's battery charged and the camera back in the fray.
No, I have more in mind this:
http://www.johnelliseone.co.uk/gallery/photo.php?photo=792&u=5476|0|...
Christina, welcome to Stills. I hope that you get as much out of this as I have.
Coming late to this I can just mostly agree with everything the others have said regarding the technical merits of this image. It really is very good. As for the cropping options mentioned I personally like the current presentation. The band at the bottom makes me think sand, which doesn’t seem out of place.
My interest in birds as photographic subjects took a major boost when I saw Colin’s bird series. In some ways for me they depict my experience of the essence of birds. Dynamic, fast, fleeting and sometimes a bit scary. I suspect my relationship with birds is very different from yours given that I used to actively hunt them up until about 30 years ago.
If you’ve ever been hit in the face by a wood pigeon diving from 20 yards out you’ll know what I mean about them being a bit scary.
Anyhow, that was in my past. I look forward to seeing more of your images.
If you’ve ever been hit in the face by a wood pigeon diving from 20 yards out you’ll know what I mean about them being a bit scary.
I can't claim that, but I was once hit by a Penguin in the kidneys. It had the merit that I didn't see it coming, but it was, on the whole, an experience to avoid.
Can't say that I've been hit by a bird, but I've certainly been dive bombed a few times by gulls, terns and once a Black Skimmer, when inadvertently getting too close to a nest. Much scarier than it would seem!
I also actively hunt birds, just that the shooting has a different end result, and I probably like more variety -- I would imagine the stalking process is similar. I even sometimes use a blind (a hide is what you might call it).
Post a Comment
Welcome to Stills.
I'll come back to the Black Back later. That sea looks gray enough to be Scottish!
I start with the premise that the only good Lilac Breasted Roller is a dead one! :-) When helping with selection for club comps I have to not comment on nature pictures because I seem to have very minority views.
Saying that I did make a special trip to London to see the Wild Life Photographer of the Year Exhibition!
So having said all that what can I say about this?
The format matches the waves and foam to create a feeling for the environment without swamping the bird. Not a usual nature pic!
:-)
I am just preparing my images for a nature comp! The judge is a chap called Phil Green, it is partly his influence that has led to my view of nature photography at club level. I am not expecting to do well!
These are the three I have so far. 1 2 3 One more to find!
As for your nature images, I think you might be sruprised and do quite well with the "Best of Friends" image.
I'm not much of a birder, but there's something about a well executed bird photo that always makes me a bit jealous. It seems a pursuit that would necessitate a high level of patience and skill.
The above sample is an excellent image. It's well balanced and that touch of black in the eye provides good contrast to an otherwise monochromatic image.
Cropping to a nearly pano aspect ratio suits this image well, but I'd be tempted to take it bit farther, take another 10% off the top and bottom perhaps?
As to this picture, it has delicate colouring plus sharpness in the right places, although, in contrast to Matt, I wouldn't crop any more but would move it up an equivalent distance to lose the 'bar' beneath your watermark. Overall, the format reminds me of the printed letterheads some people (companies) use - Matts suggestion would take it more that way. The strength of the picture is as much in the water as in the gull (is it lesser or lessor?), particularly the rush of the water over its feet. Having visited Florida a number of times in the '80s (on business), I can recall the sensation well! It was probably the last time I swam in the sea.
This is technically excellent. Sharp eye and detail in the plumage. Good background environment to provide location. The bird is just a little too static - perhaps a slightly open bill or different leg positioning would help. His gaze is out of the shot to the right - a slight cock of the head perhaps? But then these models don't take well to direction. I'm very impressed with the angle of view. Very low to the ground to give a bird's eye level.
http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/2060681/1/128110362
But I decided on the more static one for this forum because I preferred the water/scenic quality of it.
John: is this what you mean by a bird coming your way? (LINK)
No, I have more in mind this:
http://www.johnelliseone.co.uk/gallery/photo.php?photo=792&u=5476|0|...
Coming late to this I can just mostly agree with everything the others have said regarding the technical merits of this image. It really is very good. As for the cropping options mentioned I personally like the current presentation. The band at the bottom makes me think sand, which doesn’t seem out of place.
My interest in birds as photographic subjects took a major boost when I saw Colin’s bird series. In some ways for me they depict my experience of the essence of birds. Dynamic, fast, fleeting and sometimes a bit scary. I suspect my relationship with birds is very different from yours given that I used to actively hunt them up until about 30 years ago.
If you’ve ever been hit in the face by a wood pigeon diving from 20 yards out you’ll know what I mean about them being a bit scary.
Anyhow, that was in my past. I look forward to seeing more of your images.
I can't claim that, but I was once hit by a Penguin in the kidneys. It had the merit that I didn't see it coming, but it was, on the whole, an experience to avoid.
I also actively hunt birds, just that the shooting has a different end result, and I probably like more variety -- I would imagine the stalking process is similar. I even sometimes use a blind (a hide is what you might call it).