White on White

Gallery: AvianPosted March 16, 2014132 views13 comments

Did a little bit of experimenting with a White Pelican shooting after sunset, up close, with a little bit of flash. Here is my favorite so far. I made some adjustments in ACR for the whites but actually did nothing in PS (not even NR) except for resizing and sharpening.

Your comments and critiques would be much appreciated since this isn't my normal kind of shot. This coming year, I would really like to focus on producing more unique, artistic and/or out of the box images. It's not my forte, so your thoughts would be most helpful.

Happy shooting!

Canon 1D4, Canon 500L & 1.4
F11, 1/10sec, ISO 640, manual mode
Fill flash @ -1
Feisol tripod, Jobu head, cable release

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 16, 2014 at 5:46 PM

I really like the treatment here of the white background and the white bird. The color makes it pop so much. I would try and brighten the eye a touch

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 16, 2014 at 5:48 PM

This works very well for me Marina, really like the high key effect. The composition is probably the trickiest part to work out in something like this and the slightly off centre eye and diagonals created by the bill and wing are excellent. It's a tiny detail, literally, but I would be tempted to clone out the pinpoint flash highlight in the eye.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 16, 2014 at 8:13 PM

I like both the concept and your execution. You mentioned shooting after sunset. Is the background then something you added after extracting the pelican? Going by the larger version, I wouldn't change a thing. I can also see a series based on white waders (Ibis, Snowy, Cattle, Great Egret, Great White Heron). The uniqueness of their bill and facial structure, particularly if you catch them in breeding colors, could make an impressive set. Spring is coming. You have your homework.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 17, 2014 at 9:58 AM

Hello Marina

I think after viewing both images, You have Captured the Spirit of the White very well!:)

I think like Gary mentioned the Flash Pinpoint already.

Thanks For Sharing

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 17, 2014 at 1:53 PM

Very effective. Good control of the whites; nice composition.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 17, 2014 at 2:01 PM

A true piece of art. Very well exposed ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 17, 2014 at 3:02 PM

Glad to see someone stepping out of the box Marina and always support someone doing that and experimenting with stuff you might not be comfortable with. With that said, if this is the end result, you should step out of the box more often.

I really like the HK feel of this and IMO is the perfect subject for this type of imagery. The comp is really nice in this and I am not bothered by the tiny flash highlight in the eye. My only tiny thought is I might be tempted to increase the saturation a little (very little). I think when you go HK like this, it makes a bit more impact to push the envelope there,but that is really a personal preference.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 17, 2014 at 10:32 PM

The techs look excellent on this, Marina, and I really like the view you got of the face and bill. For my taste, the wing in the foreground is just a touch too dominant. If it were mine, I'd probably take a bit off the bottom, but that's all a matter of taste. I really like the white-on-white with the color highlights.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 18, 2014 at 3:46 AM

The overall shades of white and riveting yellows and detail about the eye and facial skin work really well here. Well done Marina.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 18, 2014 at 6:41 AM

Very effective MArina, like it a lot

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on March 18, 2014 at 11:06 AM

Beautiful shot !

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 18, 2014 at 2:50 PM

I like this effect too Marina, I like how this view focuses my attention to the color and textures around the eye and bill.

A creative and intriguing photo!

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Oakley on March 20, 2014 at 7:49 PM

Love it Marina - beautiful artistic imagery - quite reminiscent of Arthur Morris' work

Registered on June 12, 2012, 115 Posts, 266 Comments