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Courting Gannets
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Courting Gannets

by Graham Goddard

Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted August 30, 2011154 views11 comments
During my trip to Unst I had the opportunity to sit, sometimes for hours, with a particular subject allowing me to work on comp, techs and ideas.

The way the light was falling on this pair of Gannets (bright sun and deep shadow) gave me the idea to get the shot of them greeting and then process a B&W version.

I'm unsure what I think - the colours on these birds are just stunning, and they show on the RAW really well, but in my mind I pictured a mono conversion when I took the image.

I thought I'd throw it out for comment, so please do so......

1D MKIII, 500 f4 @ f7.1, iso400, 1/2000, -1

RAW processed in ACR, then tweeked in CS5 and converted to B&W using Silver Efex.

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Paul Powers on August 30, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Your photo really caught my eye - Nature as Art - Art as Nature - Well Done :jump:
Registered on July 25, 2010, 30 Posts, 72 Comments
Comment posted by David Sewell on August 31, 2011 at 4:34 AM
Works very nicely - changes a commonplace subject to pure art.

David
Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments
Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on August 31, 2011 at 5:11 AM
Hi Graham,

The B&W conversion work well, and the greeting pose from the Gannets makes for an interesting image.

Edit : just looked at the large version which comes without the black BG, this shows the true composition of the shot which is spot on, that'll teach me :redface: :redface: :redface:

Great looking conversion with a spot on comp, nice one Graham.

Andy... :smile:
Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Ellard on August 31, 2011 at 9:32 AM
I really do like this for the reasons stated previously, but like you do miss the colour in their faces. lovely shot as presented though :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 17, 2010, 60 Posts, 634 Comments
Comment posted by Bob Johnson on August 31, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Nice one Graham. It works for me in B&W and the comp is excellent.

Bob :smile:
Registered on December 8, 2010, 17 Posts, 169 Comments
Comment posted by Neil Burton on August 31, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Good idea well processed!
Registered on September 16, 2010, 26 Posts, 461 Comments
Comment posted by John Robinson on August 31, 2011 at 2:44 PM
Yes- a breath of fresh air. :wink: Looks good to me.
JohnR
Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments
Comment posted by Barry Southon on August 31, 2011 at 4:44 PM
Graham

A delight to view works so well.
:wink:
Registered on March 13, 2006, 21 Posts, 150 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Jones on August 31, 2011 at 6:10 PM
Works really well, love it :wink: :wink: :wink: :wavey:
Registered on January 31, 2009, 67 Posts, 316 Comments
Comment posted by Joanna Davies on September 2, 2011 at 3:59 PM
i really like this image, its memorable for all the right reasons
:smile:
Registered on May 14, 2011, 21 Posts, 43 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Phillpotts on September 4, 2011 at 6:27 AM
I really like the b/w treatment here Graham. The large version (better showing the intended composition) is excellent :toast:
Registered on January 21, 2009, 16 Posts, 62 Comments