I'd appreciate your opinion here, as we have quite a few good photographers contributing to this thread whose sense of aesthetics I value more than that of garden variety "birders".
Let me just say that the only thing I dislike more than empty sky background for birds, is blown sky background.
I got here one pijun shot against blown sky that I tried to "save" by adding some random vignetting in photoshop. I normally do not mess with things like this, so please tell me honestly what you think before I junk the shot.
PetKal wrote:
I got here one pijun shot against blown sky that I tried to "save" by adding some random vignetting in photoshop. I normally do not mess with things like this, so please tell me honestly what you think before I junk the shot.
Pete, to be honest if you hadn't mentioned that you added the "random vignetting" I would never have guessed that you'd done it. I think it looks very natural.
...hmm Peter, the background suggests lighting/weather contradicted by the shadows on the pijun. If the gray areas had a slight blue hue, it would suggest clouds and some sun and consequently shadow. My take anyhow...
Cannon wrote:
I live in a place with the nickname of Winterpeg, Winnipeg Canada, we've had a very un Winnipeg like winter this year, it's been mild and very little snow. I thought I would share a few.
I went on an all-day eagle cruise down the Connecticut River today and traveled light. Just brought the 7D with the EF 400mm f5.6L and a monopod. Here are a few from the 500+ taken today. The temps were in the 50's, sunny, and the winds were around 10 knots at the most. No ice to be seen, so that cut down on the numbers; 3 occupied nests with Mom, 2 adults flying, 1 adult in a tree, 3 juvee's doing sky-tricks. Lots of other visiting birds, such as loons and grand cormorants. It was a great day to be vertical .
15 bit, your last one is a knockout winner, because:
1. strong composition with great leading lines and contrast of scale (large trees at differing distance, and foreground sapling, all connected beautifully)
2. excellent texture in the snow, yet it retains its illusion of whiteness
3. obviously shot with Canon equipment!
I sure hope that last is true, as you seem to have stripped the exif!
PetKal wrote:
I got here one pijun shot against blown sky that I tried to "save" by adding some random vignetting in photoshop. I normally do not mess with things like this, so please tell me honestly what you think before I junk the shot.
Peter, my honest opinion is that it's close, but no cigar. I suppose there could actually be a cloud formation that looks just like what you created, but it doesn't like right to me. I wouldn't give up on the technique. Though you routinely manage to capture great bird shots against interesting and even beautiful backgrounds, there may be a point where you have a BIF against bare sky that is so unusual you feel it is worth dressing up. Maybe practice a little more with this one, and when the killer example comes along you'll be ready to "perfect it with fiction" ŪTM.
Photon wrote:
15 bit, your last one is a knockout winner, because:
1. strong composition with great leading lines and contrast of scale (large trees at differing distance, and foreground sapling, all connected beautifully)
2. excellent texture in the snow, yet it retains its illusion of whiteness
3. obviously shot with Canon equipment!
I sure hope that last is true, as you seem to have stripped the exif!
350D / 10-22mm.
Thanks for the compliments. I confess its a favourite of mine too, partly because i went and "found" it, and there was nothing accidental about the shot: I actually felt like a photographer after i took it . Its one of the very few photos i've actually tried to print. Couldn't find the right paper though - it feels like a matte print to me, but i just couldn't get it right.
Robert, thank you for your input.
Very nice B&W stuff, 15Bit.
John, indeed, on occasion one sees hawk mobbing taking place, but I've never photographed it. You did well, and with sufficient detail too.
Beautiful foxes Bob, beautiful light you've got there too. We had about the first day of blue skies and sun here today for the first time in ages, warmer too.
John:
Thank you. The light in the last two is unusual as most of the winter has been the same light as the first. Our February so far has been tropical compared to January.
UgashikBob wrote:
We have had a very intense winter. January was very long and cold. When the foxes start looking down at you through the living room window its a hint.
#2, Fox in Fresh Snow, is wonderful! What lens were you using? Thank you...
-Cam
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