Sea Cliffs

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 15, 20151,272 views6 comments

This one is an exercise in minimalism. I didn't know whether to title it Sea Cliffs or Sentries, i.e. which has the stronger focus. I also tried cropping out the bird on the left but that left the center bird too off to the left. Anyway I have no idea if this works or not and would appreciate feedback. Canon 5D Mark II. 1/200, f11.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on November 15, 2015 at 9:18 PM

Lucy, for me it doesn't work. Sorry about that. cheeky

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Stanton on November 15, 2015 at 10:20 PM

Would you considerd cropping one third of the right side and only have the bird silouttes and clif shape?

Registered on March 1, 2015, 54 Posts, 453 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on November 16, 2015 at 12:21 PM

I like your idea and execution here, but I am slightly bothered by the piece of water in between the rocks. So I think I would play around with a crop from the bottom and maybe even crop out the fourth bird as well, so that there are only three of them left? But I like this, very well seen.

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on November 16, 2015 at 3:02 PM

Interesting concept, here. I like Roel's crop idea, and you might also crop down from the top, too. I think the crops will better support yuor 'minimalist' idea.

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 17, 2015 at 12:22 PM

Lucy, I had to comment here because I see something that no one has mentioned, even you. Yes, this works as a minimalistic view; the b&w, contrast, forms, etc. all work. What I find most telling here is a tension I see between the two main birds. If I'm not mistaken, the one in the upper left is a profile of a hawk, or some kind or raptor. I suppose it could be a gull, but it sure looks like a raptor to me. And so at least for me, that is the story - the tension between the waiting predator and the cautious and alert gull.

Does anyone else see that? That alone makes this image work for me.

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on November 17, 2015 at 4:51 PM

Lon,
Thank you checking in. Yes I am aware of the bird far left. But I believe it's a turkey vulture. I've seen a small group of them occasionally up on that cliff. Perhaps waiting for a dead something or other to wash up on the strand. Not a beautiful bird, but one of my favorites for their sheer avian ability to ride the thermals.
Maybe the ambiguity here is a good thing.

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments