Receding gannet heads

Gallery: AvianPosted March 3, 2011114 views14 comments

I don't do a lot of bird photography but absolutely love every minute of it when I do and gannets are such fantastic birds to photograph!
This was on the Saltees Islands in Ireland last June. I was trying to make some kind of order of the mass of nesting gannets and here chose to focus on the head of one, getting a receding pattern of other gannet heads behind. Please view LARGE and any comments much appreciated.

Canon 1DSiii, 300 2.8 IS and 1.4xTC ISO100 1/1600 @ f4.5, handheld

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 3, 2011 at 12:09 PM

I find this composition to be effective. It is always difficult working with large groups like this but you've managed quite well IMO.

Nice detail and exposure as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on March 3, 2011 at 1:14 PM

I like the colors and sharpness of the bird in the foreground and especially the mirrored background

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on March 3, 2011 at 2:03 PM

The front bird looks good sharp and well exposed and i like the oof birds in the bg .

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 3, 2011 at 3:00 PM

Nice DOF and great exposure.
The receding heads works very well -
I personally would clean up the specks and blobs, but I know this is an individual choice. Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Holguin on March 3, 2011 at 3:06 PM

Wonderful image. The oof gannets really add to the image. Well exposed and the composition is amazing. Well done.

Registered on January 25, 2011, 44 Posts, 294 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 3, 2011 at 3:14 PM

Very interesting composition with the gannet heads, I might be inclined to crop a little off the bottom to reduce the OOF area in lower right corner. Excellent job in handling the whites with very good detail on the main bird, well seen, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on March 3, 2011 at 3:52 PM

I agree with the others, It's tough to have a major out of focus feature in any composition, but this one works for me.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Lizzie Shepherd on March 3, 2011 at 4:58 PM

Thank you very much for the feedback everyone.
Sandy - I know what you mean about all the blobs on this - but, for me, I'm then altering the natural state of these birds and, wonderful as they are, they are messy and clumsy so I've let them be!

That said, for a more abstract image of gannets, I'd be happy to clean up a bit - as you say, it comes down to personal preference. I have a few more that are more abstract in nature so hope to post those in due course and see what people think.
Jim H - like you I find that OOF area in the bottom a little too much - trouble is, if I crop it, I am not sure I like the balance as much compositionally - but maybe I could get used to a little less if try it - so I'll probaly give it a go and compare them for a few days and see how I go!

Registered on March 2, 2011, 18 Posts, 120 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 3, 2011 at 8:34 PM

You've demonstrated a really interesting way to deal with the compositional problems presented by birds nesting in flocks. I may steal it.

I like the way the series of Gannet heads recede into the background. I'm not so excited about the OOF back of the front bird, but I don't have any suggestions about how to deal with it and preserve that excellent background.

Lovely detail on the lead Gannet's head and bill. The ivory colors are perfect.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 3, 2011 at 8:59 PM

Excelllent! I love the layers of birds here and how the depth of field works in this shot Lizzie

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 3, 2011 at 9:30 PM

Your presentation works very well indeed and the squarish crop is most suitable!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Lizzie Shepherd on March 4, 2011 at 3:08 PM

Thanks again everyone.
Jim - be my guest! ;-) but if you work out how to deal with the front part while you're at it, then please let me know

Registered on March 2, 2011, 18 Posts, 120 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 6, 2011 at 8:23 AM

Very nice composition Lizzie. I really like your choice of DOF in this image.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on March 7, 2011 at 4:03 AM

Beautiful lines and color. I like the composition.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments