Spoonbill

S

ShallowShannon

Senior Member
This represents the type of photography I like to do the most. (shore birds)
I thought I would ask for some opinions for how I can improve when doing this sort of shot.
A flock of about 20 birds landed nearby while I was getting ready to go fishing for the day, I probably took 200 shots or more before I decided I needed to get going if I was going to make the tide. It was around 7 AM when they came in to eat.

Thanks,

D3100
F-stop 5.3
Exposure Time 1/400 sec.
ISO 100
Metering mode Center Weighted
Focal length 230mm
Subject distance 17.8m




3 by Heard Photography, on Flickr
 
S

STM

Senior Member
Overall not a bad image. I might suggest you crop some off the left side to place the bird outside the center of the frame and darken the image somewhat to bring out the colors and textures a little better. What do you think?
spoonbill_zps507fd7aa.jpg
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
STM said:
Overall not a bad image. I might suggest you crop some off the left side to place the bird outside the center of the frame and darken the image somewhat to bring out the colors and textures a little better. What do you think?
spoonbill_zps507fd7aa.jpg
Click to expand...
I like what you did with it Scott... I thought it was good but this is an improvement

Pat in NH
 
ohkphoto

ohkphoto

Snow White
ShallowShannon said:
This represents the type of photography I like to do the most. (shore birds)
I thought I would ask for some opinions for how I can improve when doing this sort of shot.
A flock of about 20 birds landed nearby while I was getting ready to go fishing for the day, I probably took 200 shots or more before I decided I needed to get going if I was going to make the tide. It was around 7 AM when they came in to eat.

Thanks,

D3100
F-stop 5.3
Exposure Time 1/400 sec.
ISO 100
Metering mode Center Weighted
Focal length 230mm
Subject distance 17.8m



http://www.flickr.com/photos/94288321@N05/9040100561/
3 by Heard Photography, on Flickr
Click to expand...



Overall, it's a nice capture of a pretty bird with beautiful colors. I very much like the reflection. However, there is not much happening there and so the photo has very little impact. Perhaps if you wait and/or kind of anticipate when the bird is going to do something interesting like ruffle his feathers or yawn or stretch his wings, it would make the photo more interesting.

I would also suggest a shallower depth of field especially in a case like this where you have distracting objects "protruding" from the bird's head. . . a little risky with wildlife so you really have to watch your focusing technique.

capturespoonbill.JPG

Based on the 12 elements, I would rate this an 8 out of 12 (4 points deducted for technique, creativity, impact and style as in post processing)

Wildlife shots are tough . . . sometimes you have to 'settle' until you relax enough to wait for the right moment.
Good job. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your birds!
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
ohkphoto said:
Overall, it's a nice capture of a pretty bird with beautiful colors. I very much like the reflection. However, there is not much happening there and so the photo has very little impact. Perhaps if you wait and/or kind of anticipate when the bird is going to do something interesting like ruffle his feathers or yawn or stretch his wings, it would make the photo more interesting.

I would also suggest a shallower depth of field especially in a case like this where you have distracting objects "protruding" from the bird's head. . . a little risky with wildlife so you really have to watch your focusing technique.

View attachment 40572

Based on the 12 elements, I would rate this an 8 out of 12 (4 points deducted for technique, creativity, impact and style as in post processing)

Wildlife shots are tough . . . sometimes you have to 'settle' until you relax enough to wait for the right moment.
Good job. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your birds!
Click to expand...

Helene, as always, I enjoy reading your critiques and the score along with the reasons. Another excellent example, thanks for the time to do it right! I learn something from each critique even though it is not mine!! (Yet)

Question if I may, to better understand... 4 items lost points.. (Technique, Creativity, Impact & Style)

Can you identify which items deducted in each category?? I saw no "action so to speak" and assume that talks to Impact. (seen many others have that same critique so I better watch that :)

Also saw Shallower Dof... does that speak to Technique???

Protusion from Birds Head?? That could have been processed out.. (maybe Style??)

what caused the deduction in creativity??

Sorry to be so long winded, I am just trying to learn and typically will ask if I do not understand it all.. (Note: NOT questioning your critique, just trying to learn from it!)

I need to find a phot or 2 to put here of mine... this type of critique will surely help me on my work.

Thanks again for what u do and how thorough!

Pat in NH
 
S

ShallowShannon

Senior Member
Thanks, that's the kind of help I was looking for.
STM I like what you did there, I didn't realize how blown out the neck was till I saw your edit.

I would also suggest a shallower depth of field especially in a case like this where you have distracting objects "protruding" from the bird's head. . . a little risky with wildlife so you really have to watch your focusing technique.
Click to expand...


Good catch, I didn't even notice that oyster by his head. I did get some with water drops coming off its bill and a couple other composures with them doing stuff a little more interesting, but you are right. I should have taken my time, these opportunities don't appear very often.

What F/stop would you recommend for something like this?
I should have mentioned I was shooting with an AF-S 70-300 VR 2.
Thanks again for the tips.
 
S

STM

Senior Member
I tweaked the image a little bit more. I removed the rocks near its head, added a "progressive" blur in the background to simulate a shallower depth of field and added some vignetting to further emphasize the bird. It was "quick and dirty" and is really for illustrative purposes only.

spoonbill1_zps6868a4c6.jpg
 
S

ShallowShannon

Senior Member
wud said:
Shannon, what editing program do you use?

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Click to expand...

Elements 10. I also use a laptop, although I tried to tune it the best I can as far as color and brightness it still doesn't seem to match my desktop at work. I'm still working on my editing and printing skills. (among others) I also like what STM did.
 
S

STM

Senior Member
ShallowShannon said:
Elements 10. I also use a laptop, although I tried to tune it the best I can as far as color and brightness it still doesn't seem to match my desktop at work. I'm still working on my editing and printing skills. (among others) I also like what STM did.
Click to expand...

You really should look into monitor calibration system. Monitors can vary widely in their color rendition and gamma (brightness). I have calbirated both my desktop and laptop and do it about once a month for each.
 
wud

wud

Senior Member
ShallowShannon said:
Elements 10. I also use a laptop, although I tried to tune it the best I can as far as color and brightness it still doesn't seem to match my desktop at work. I'm still working on my editing and printing skills. (among others) I also like what STM did.
Click to expand...

You got clone tool then - if you dont know it, its awesome. Its under the short cut key "S", maybe you see it as 'pattern stamp tool', just drag it out and choose clone tool.

Press 'alt' down, click on a spot in the water nearby the rock behind the birds head, release and click on the rock - magic :D

Another thing, make sure you save your pictures as sRGB. Its a color profile which works for screen (printing too). I set my camera for this color profile, as I dont ever use anything else.




STM, think we talked about this calibration in another thread, do you use the standard computer program for doing it? Or a special program?

When I look at my pics on my work computer, its more or less the same, just really ugly quality lol. Our work computer isn't really any good.
 
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