For the first time ever am I so HAPPY with my accomplishment as a brand-spanking new photographer!
I've always wanted to shoot an image that would fascinate me and capture my attention! I've been practicing long and hard as several of you have known for the past five months. I have shot many pictures of birds and have processed them in the hopes of getting better crisp and detailed shots! Lately, I've been able to achieve those goals with much success considering the gear I've been using and that will change real soon!
But I was getting so hung up on over-sharpening in the quest for more detail, more detail, more detail and I soon discovered I was losing their TRUE INTEGRITY and REAL CHARACTER IDENTITY! In fact they began to look like mere feathered spectacles, RATHER than what they TRULY are..."Living subjects with individual character traits and personal identities also"...
My images were beginning to look very sterile as one friend puts it! And it was a correct assessment as I concurred...
I had lost the whole reason and joy of why photography had interested me in the first place! I got all hung up on the NORM of more detail, more detail, more detail found on various forums alike! No one's fault but, yes, its my own...
But I say no more!
And that I mustSTRIKE the PERFECT BALANCE as seen in the natural and in the beautiful animals in the vast outdoors which we are so privileged to engage in...
So I went back to my personal objectives that I had in the first place and whadda-ya-know....I was able to capture an image that is most LIFE-LIKE through my eyes and discovered a STYLE that I am truly fascinated with for right now at least in the hopes it will evolve and flourish with immense personal gratification in time and with much patience!
Well this is the one FINALLY and I'm hoping that I will have the opportunity to capture many more! I wanted to share it for the very sole reason that it has brought me so much joy and satisfaction! In this one image I have met many of my PERSONAL GOALS that I had ear-marked long before I ever held my camera/lens in my hands and squeezed off a shot!
Its not so much the subject being a RED CARDINAL, nor even the BG that really does it for me as its plain-jane as we can all witness, but MORE importantly its the subject's "SPIRIT of the MOMENT" and the reality and life-likeness of HIS image that I was able to capture and the SPIRIT that it imparts to me and hopefully() you as the viewer...
This is more of the type of photography that I would like to capture in my WILDLIFE/NATURE/BIRD adventures...Its a STYLE that I would like to embrace for the rest of my life...
Thanks to all of you that have invested in me and have believed in my talents knowing that one day my fascination and hard-work and efforts would pay-off...
I have posted this shot here today as an example, that you may better understand the STYLE that I'm in pursuit of in capturing through my work! It is in no-wise to think-less of anyone's STYLE or individual goals but only to convey in a revealing fashion my own personal experiences and struggle to find my own identity and my place in this great ART...
This is the direction that I'm now headed as my goals are no longer so abstract to me but now fully realized! I thank you all so very much for your kindness and for sharing with me all the GEMS of CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS that I will forever hold fast to in my foundation in this wonderful FINE ART...
Thank you for letting me express my creativity here and share this image that is dear to my heart...fully realizing that it may not be for everyone and that's okay as everyone has a STYLE unto themselves...May we all have joy in our own imagination and creativity!
I wish everyone the same satisfaction of realizing their personal goals and applaud your talents as well!
May everyone keep on keeping on and enjoy this wonderful hobby of self-expression through ART in their own eyes!
Aloha!
Roland
Socrate my friend ...I DEDICATE THIS ONE TO YOU...for it is my FIRST!!!
Thank you Buddy...
What an interesting capture. He looks like a vulture in the pose you caught him in. Almost sinister and evil too.Quite a departure from their usual sassy and bright poses.
yogi3939 wrote:
What an interesting capture. He looks like a vulture in the pose you caught him in. Almost sinister and evil too.Quite a departure from their usual sassy and bright poses.
Yes, I thought it was very interesting as well! This guy had an attitude that would change at a moments notice...First, he was all handsome and regal but yet shy...And the next moment he was staring me down with a glare that was very sinister and evil indeed...
I was very excited that I was able to capture him in these different moods in a span of less than 20 seconds...
I'm also thrilled that the image had invoked the REAL spirit of his nature at that precise moment as it produced a very REAL emotion and reaction to his mood...
I want my images to properly communicate what my eyes see at that precise moment and the feeling I had when I captured it...Its the SPIRIT of the MOMENT that I desire to express through my images and this is my FIRST...
I have several more where I will later post his more handsome and regal and shy side!
Thanks for sharing your reaction and the emotion to the image as it was real!
Super look and expression to the Cardinal. I like the fact that it goes beyond just a mere "portrait" shot. And the details, light and exposure are spot-on. Congrats on an excellent job, Roland!
Great job Roland! Congrats on a capture that is just what you wanted. I would have to agree with your preamble, sometimes we get too hung up on a certain look. Good for you, a wonderful shot. I just spent a couple days trying to get a cardinal but the buggers would not cooperate. I got nothing even close to this.
Roland, reading your post was as interesting as the cardinal's pose. Your enthusiasm for photography is.....contagious and you have all my admiration.
Most of us have the tendency to look at the technical aspet of the pictures, which is ok, but nothing compares to a good feel and mood that a not-so-technically-good picture conveys to the viewer. In your shot the bird's pose leaves the viewer play with its own imagination, giving an interesting character to the image. Well done, Ro.
Socrate
Shasoc wrote:
Roland, reading your post was as interesting as the cardinal's pose. Your enthusiasm for photography is.....contagious and you have all my admiration.
Most of us have the tendency to look at the technical aspet of the pictures, which is ok, but nothing compares to a good feel and mood that a not-so-technically-good picture conveys to the viewer. In your shot the bird's pose leaves the viewer play with its own imagination, giving an interesting character to the image. Well done, Ro.
Socrate
Thank you my friend! Socrate it was through our PM's that I discovered this and it was our last one that really SLAMMED it home for me! Your answers and explanations to my myriad of questions have made a tremendous impact on me!
I had to find a happy medium in my expression of this ART...
I believe I am now somewhat able to take it to the technical-side and the non-so-technical-side and have a play on it anywhere inside of the two...of course its all green and raw right now, but in time and much more research and development I sincerely believe I will successfully be able to challenge my goals!
I'll definitely be forever learning and I'll take much pleasure in discovering where this will inevitably all go! I believe that is the true joy of why I gave up my hunting rifles for a camera... Now I'm learning to be a switch-shooter...hehehe
I thank you very much my friend for entertaining all my questions each and every time and sharing your great wealth of knowlege in a most patient and generous fashion!
danjacquitaylo wrote:
+1 from me.
Roland,
Very nice shot. Sometimes, a great picture isn't all about technical aspects. You said it well.
dan
Thanks Dan... as that is all I'm trying to convey in my images...The STYLE I will choose to use to process an image from now on will be solely based on its SPIRIT of THE MOMENT...yes, its MOOD...
Each capture will be different and so will my PP techniques have to be flexible enough to accomodate these variations...
Sometimes more technical, sometimes more non-technical but ALWAYS trying to capture THE PERFECT BALANCE as seen through my eyes as an artist, not just a photographer snapping off pictures...That's not where I want to go with it personally! Nothing wrong with it at all but just not my bottle(s) of beer(s)...
anthony whitmo wrote:
hmm how did you sharpen this
what technique did you use
Just curious to see what your doing now
It's a great photo
Ant
Hey Ant...
Its not so much about sharpening that's been the difference as there are more than one way to skin that goat in PS... But its moreso what I'm trying to EXPRESS through an image...And many atimes in order for me to accomplish that I will have to challenge the technical aspects of a great photo...
In a nutshell this "NUT" buddy of yours will be trying to process more unsound SOUND images whenever the image lends itself to this type of treatment...
) you as the viewer... 
...I DEDICATE THIS ONE TO YOU...for it is my FIRST!!!
I got nothing even close to this.