Abstract Chaos + repost

Gallery: AvianPosted May 17, 2011151 views12 comments

Here's another shorebird image from last week in Cordova. For all the time,effort, and practice spent getting crisp, in focus images, I think this one best depicts the migration event. For all the graceful flight patterns etc, it becomes rather chaotic when there are tens of thousands of birds feeding, calling, flying,etc at the same time. The photographer also gets the sense of what a predator faces trying to zero in on individual birds among the swarm. But what fun!

One of the things about this image that caught my attention is the abstract appearance of the wings. Something about the blurred/oof effect and the angle of the flight of th birds made the wings appear much more curved in the middle and pointed at the tips than they actually are. At any rate, it appealed to me at least.

Definately a different perspective than I've ever taken on anything. Comments and suggestions will be appreciated.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on May 17, 2011 at 5:13 PM

certainly something different Dan...for my tastes it just lacks some "oomph"? I think a higher contrast B&W version would rock with this, as with colour my eye just seems to hunt for something sharper to latch onto here.

hope I'm making sense - I do love motion blurred shots, just think this can be taken to another level

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Clayton Musgrove on May 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM

I am enjoying this shot Dan. I can almost feel and hear the chaos and confusion. It is a nice break from straing to see all the details for me.

Registered on February 6, 2010, 55 Posts, 235 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 17, 2011 at 6:42 PM

I like the abstract nature of this image. I think the abstract nature could be enhanced even more with a crop from the bottom to eliminate the open water. Agree with a bit more punch to the image. Nice concept.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 17, 2011 at 7:07 PM

Totally cool Dan. Great image.
May

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 18, 2011 at 10:05 AM

Interesting concept Dan and obviously this type of image has appeal for some (perhaps many) but my eye is begging for something sharp in the image (possibly my own too narrow preferences). Not much more I can say without knowing anything about your techs.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on May 18, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Love the motion and the sheer number of the birds. Maybe just a little contrast in this one.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on May 18, 2011 at 12:24 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. I will try kicking up the contrast as suggested. Have to wait till I get back on my desktop at home so a repost may be a few days out.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on May 18, 2011 at 2:03 PM

I have never seen or experienced anything like this so this image gives me a sense of what it would be, thanks for posting.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 18, 2011 at 2:16 PM

Yep. A little more punch, but what a great visual experience. You're right about the curved wings and pointed tips making this interesting. Looks like an etching.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 18, 2011 at 8:13 PM

Dan,
I'm wondering if you cropped a little bit off the bottom where there are not many birds if this woudld present it self slightly better? I love this type of blur shot as I have never been able to capture something that I really like. I agree with Morkel in that my eye is looking for something sharp in the middle to latch onto but I'm not finding anything. I'm wondering if it would play even better if you blurred it even more? Just some thoughts. Don't get me wrong, I think this is terrific. Just trying to offer a couple of suggestions.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on May 18, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Interesting image, Dan. I like seeing all the blurred birds and can sense the commotion. I think this would have been a better image if the birds were coming towards you instead of flying away. I would also crop a bit off the bottom and bump up the saturation. I would also like to see the techs.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on May 20, 2011 at 1:09 AM

Thanks for all the comments on this image. Here's a version with higher contrast and bottom cropped tighter as suggested.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments