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Not Whoopers - WC#571

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 13, 2013116 views7 comments

I was out on the observation tower at Paynes Prairie early one morning last month working on landscape shots when I heard the sandhill cranes calling, then saw some take to the air in the distance. I also saw some large white birds, and thinking they might be whooping cranes, as a few are known to hang out with the sandhills, I quickly switched from wide angle to telephoto lens. I managed to get a few shots before the big white birds dropped back into the prairie. And I immediately realized without even looking at the shots on the camera that I had failed to switch from low ISO, speed and landscape aperture to settings more appropriate for bird action. Well I thought, maybe I'll have an interesting blur image. Later when I looked through them, I was pleasantly surprised how this one came out and how it had a natural 'painterly effect' look to it. It is cropped a bit for best composition. After examining all of my shots I came to the conclusion that the birds are actually wood storks.
Canon 7D, EF300mm f/4L IS USM lens, ISO 100, f/8, 1/30 sec, Aperture-priority, Exposure comp +1

Paul
Comments & Critiques welcome & encouraged.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on February 13, 2013 at 7:54 AM

I think this came out beautifully! It definitely has a painterly look to it! i like the soft muted colors & the birds flying across added just the right touch!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 13, 2013 at 8:59 AM

This does have a very nice "painterly" look. While this is very nice "art treatment" as presented, I would be tempted to crop most, but not all, of the darker grasses in the foreground. It works very well as in-camera photo art.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Rebmann on February 13, 2013 at 9:29 PM

Thanks for the comments, especially the input on cropping Mark. I am very interested in hearing other peoples thoughts on that, as I will probably be printing this image. I left as much as I did because I liked the various bands of color, but did wonder if a a little less in front would be better.

Paul

Registered on July 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Rebmann on February 14, 2013 at 6:53 AM

Here is a different version, taking Mark's comments into consideration.
So do people like the original(#1), or this tighter crop(#2) better?

Registered on July 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 14, 2013 at 9:17 AM

Paul, I like the crop. Without dark grass at the bottom, there's a very misty feeling and it gives just a bit more emphasis to the birds. I would also encourage to try another version including a small swatch of the darker grasses at the bottom and see which one of the three you like best.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on February 14, 2013 at 11:05 AM

Both versions are beautiful. I love the painterly effect. I prefer the second version, because the colors are very soft and muted throughout the image without the darker grasses seen at the bottom of the image in the first version.

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on February 16, 2013 at 4:06 PM

Love all the soft layers in this image. . .I count at least 9 distinct layers with slight variations of texture and color. The few trees and birds add some contrast to the overall layered look. The slight blur and the hazy lighting does give a very nice painterly feel to this photo. Just saw your repost but I think I like the original better. To me the bottom darker grasses give some nice tonal contrast to the image.

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments