Monday, April 09, 2007
Portrait of a Black Vulture
Comments:
This cat looks unfriendly!
The lighting is harsh and has produced some good delineation effects in the feathers. The lighting has also emphasised the 'complexion' of the bird.
The background is nicely OoF.
I can't get over the feeling that this is someone dressed up as a vulture: that bare skin on the face does resemble a mask and the feathers are like some outsize costume - but then maybe the two species have something in common!
A powerful depiction of an ugly critter, which, nonetheless, has its own ability to fascinate.
Interesting comments -- especially since I see it as looking rather friendly, even smiling. Also I find this one of the most handsome vultures I've ever encountered (and freshly bathed). Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, it seems!
Clearly a bird, and yet just perhaps a suggestion of one of their lordships' sillier outfits. Black rod at the State Opening...
Love the feathers and the skin detail.
You could possibly get away with desaturating the greens to get rid of the hot spot top right which drags my eye away from the face.
I agree about the spot top right, and I did that for the version on my web site -- this one is pretty much straight from the camera, only because it is part of a contest submission where most PS alterations are not acceptable.
Black Rod - I like that!
A handsome picture - not necessarily a handsome bird! They're close to condors are they not? At least the vulture is all one colour as opposed to the condor's bits of pink and white about the head. The latter are amazing in flight but as soon as they touch the ground - even Black Rod is a compliment!
I'm not sure why, but I keep feeling like there is something odd about this composition. I've been thinking about it for days, but I can't pin down the root of my unease. Perhaps the eye is too dead center?
Matt -- I would hazard a guess that it is because the image really needs a little more space on each side (or maybe just the left side in front of the beak). I wish I'd taken a step backward.
Very formal and excellent feather detail. As it stands I'd hazzard that you are either too close or too far away. I assume this model was fairly tame therefore going closer in on the facial detail may have been a more rewarding result whilst maintaining some of that beautiful feather detail. Further out may have resulted in a bigger environmental shot of a vulture not surrounded in carrion. As presented, it's a little too 'formal' for my tastes.
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The lighting is harsh and has produced some good delineation effects in the feathers. The lighting has also emphasised the 'complexion' of the bird.
The background is nicely OoF.
A powerful depiction of an ugly critter, which, nonetheless, has its own ability to fascinate.
Love the feathers and the skin detail.
You could possibly get away with desaturating the greens to get rid of the hot spot top right which drags my eye away from the face.
A handsome picture - not necessarily a handsome bird! They're close to condors are they not? At least the vulture is all one colour as opposed to the condor's bits of pink and white about the head. The latter are amazing in flight but as soon as they touch the ground - even Black Rod is a compliment!