Away from the Crowd

Gallery: AvianPosted April 17, 20081,912 views32 comments

I like the inclusion of the OOF birds in the background of this image because it makes me feel that the Marbled Godwit I focused on "is" standing out from the crowd. And in some respects the OOF birds are no different than oof grasses, shrubs, trees or any other part of natural habitats. I think they add depth to the image rather than distract.

I like the one leg raised and bent pose, being able to see the raised foot so crisply and the varying hues of the water.

D200, 80-400mm@400mm, f/7.1, 1/800, ISO 200, HH, kneeling low enough to get a wet bottom, I could not get a lower angle. No flash. Cropped for composition.

I appreciate your comments & critiques.

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on April 17, 2008 at 10:09 AM

Lia,

I agree with you on bg and pose. Beautiful image and the colors are also very nice.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on April 17, 2008 at 11:50 AM

Very well done and I love the pose. I agree with you about the bg, too.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on April 17, 2008 at 12:27 PM

No nits here. I like the low angle, light, pose, etc. I could go either way with the BG but I certainly do not find it distracting as is.

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 17, 2008 at 2:28 PM

Hi Lia,

I really think this works quite well. Normally I find OOF birds quite distracting but these are enough OOF that they become almost abstract. I think if you had more DOF it would have ruined it. As is, pretty cool.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 17, 2008 at 3:39 PM

Lovely, Lia. I like the lighting and the lifted leg in mid position. Sharp with a nice catch light too. And I agree that the background birds are OOF enough to not be a distraction in the least. I like your title too. Well done!

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on April 17, 2008 at 5:03 PM

Great shot, nice angle

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 17, 2008 at 7:25 PM

Great image, Lia. I like the look in the eye.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on April 17, 2008 at 10:00 PM

Lia:
The image of the bird is so sharp, the bird has such striking markings, and the pose is so nice that it is difficult to imagine a background in the normal habitat of the bird that would ruin this shot. I'm ambivalent about the OOF birds in the background. I'm sure I would like the shot if they were not there, but I'm not sure I like it more because they are there.
David Sparks

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 17, 2008 at 10:49 PM

Totally agree with you about the oof birds being an asset. They make for a much more interesting photo in my opinion. Good title too Lia. My complements on the nice low angle.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 18, 2008 at 12:04 AM

A very lovely shot, Lia. I agree with your comments. In a lot of senses, the flock of birds is also an organism, in its own way. Any time we can take shots that make that point, it adds to the photo. The OOF birds help.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Blount on April 18, 2008 at 12:42 AM

Lia,
I like everything about this image, the color, lighting and feather detail is outstanding and the OOF birds in the BG actually add to it for me.

Registered on October 14, 2007, 58 Posts, 535 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 18, 2008 at 12:43 AM

I like the background and the composition as a whole. I like the fact that the OOF birds are still identifiable. Nice work, Lia!

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on April 18, 2008 at 12:48 AM

Lia great job on this photo the OOF BG IS PERFECT as these bids are seldom alone

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on April 18, 2008 at 12:57 AM

super nice ... no nits from me.

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 18, 2008 at 3:36 AM

Excellent image Lia - sharp and the raised foot is great.

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

Comment posted by Donna Bingham on April 18, 2008 at 7:00 AM

I like everything about it too Lia. Beauitfully done.

Registered on May 11, 2007, 79 Posts, 405 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Lipski on April 18, 2008 at 2:22 PM

Hi Lia,
Looks like it's all already been said; Sharp shot, nice comp, great low angle, and I find the oof birds a plus. Beauty!

Registered on November 14, 2003, 0 Posts, 12 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 19, 2008 at 1:09 AM

Nice one Lia, I've always been comfortable with oof birds in photos of species where they are normally encountered in flocks, in fact I prefer it.

cheers Rob

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

Comment posted by Norman MacLeod on April 19, 2008 at 3:06 AM

I agree that the OOF background birds help make the main subject stand out more than if they were absent. Great capture!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 8 Posts, 23 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Inglis on April 19, 2008 at 7:37 AM

Hi Lia,

Awesome capture!

Registered on October 23, 2007, 26 Posts, 2832 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on April 19, 2008 at 9:39 AM

Beautiful light, love the leg up and the angle. The OOF birds in the background keep drawing my eyes away from the main subject. I wonder what would happen if you just burned the OOF birds down a little. The one on the left is especially bright and close to the edge of the frame. For me, that is always an item that pulls my eyes to that point. Congrats on this image. It has a lot going for it.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on April 19, 2008 at 9:55 AM

I especially like the pose. nice detail and lighting. I think it would a personal preference whether it would be better with or without the oof birds. Excellent either way.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 20, 2008 at 6:55 PM

I think this is a wonderful shot Lia, great comp, lighting, angle and the raised foot tops it off. Congrats.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 21, 2008 at 8:37 PM

See, I told you it was good

Congratulations on the EP Lia!

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 21, 2008 at 9:50 PM

Superb shot, LIa, congrats on the EP!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by raymond j barlow on April 21, 2008 at 10:26 PM

very very nice, and congrats!

Registered on March 29, 2007, 218 Posts, 964 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on April 22, 2008 at 12:06 AM

Absolutely stunning, Lia. Congratulations on the EP. Well deserved

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 22, 2008 at 8:24 AM

My thanks for the congratulations on this image getting EP for the week. It is especially an honor to me when you consider how many awesome avian images are posted here on NPN each week.

Thanks again!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on April 23, 2008 at 12:33 AM

many congrats on the EP Lia

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on April 23, 2008 at 4:25 PM

Cracker of a image.

Congrats

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on April 25, 2008 at 11:10 AM

Congrats Lia!! Very well done.

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on May 4, 2009 at 4:09 AM

Wonderful pose deatial and light. The birds in the background provide a typical mudflat context.

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