Posted by Sean Bolton on November 9, 2006 at 2:53 PM
Hi Everyone
Another from Slimbridge, this time from the South Finger hide in the afternoon. I had a few chances of Mute Swans taking off and landing but this juvenile Mute Swan had read the manual and knew exactly the right place to touch down to give me a nice frame filling image.
Only modification was cloning out a mallard which was in the top left hand corner of the shot. I would have prefered the swan to have landed facing into the light a bit more so that is was a bit more evenly lit, maybe next time......
I do like the water splashing at its feet, but feel that, other than this little bit of action, it is a rather static looking shot.
Maybe a bit of experiment with very slow shutter speed could have given it some movement, maybe you tried that and it didn't work
Light...you've critiqued that yourself, but I'll add that it looks to be too middle of the day type of light to do justice to a white (ish) bird.
john
Posted by Sean Bolton on November 9, 2006 at 5:17 PM
John, Helge thanks for those comments.
John, yes I do see what you mean about it having a static look to it, I tend to agree but not sure what could help this particular shot.
I did take some slow shutter speed, motion blur, type of shots of the swans in flight, I am still deciding whether to bin them or keep them, maybe I should post one next and get some critique.
cheers
Sean
Posted by David Kjaer on November 9, 2006 at 5:28 PM
Hi Sean
I like the image but I can see what John means - IMO I feel the main problem is it is a little too large and central in the frame. Had you given it some space to fly into i think this would have gone a long way to resolving this issue, especially as you have a little blurring in the wing!
Hello Sean
I agree with John's comments and wonder if it might be just a bit tight in the frame too? I realise that the swan is dead level, but that ripple behind gives the awkward illusion of the image running from right to left.
Nonetheless, you have certainly captured him pin sharp and feather perfect.
Best wishes
Phil
Posted by John Chapman on November 10, 2006 at 8:12 AM
Hi Sean
great action shot. I like the pose and the effects in the water. You have mentioned the light yourself and I agree.
John
Aberdeen
Posted by Dave Courtenay on November 10, 2006 at 9:13 AM
I dont mind the image myself,you have caught the bird skating on the water at just the right time,its sharp where it needs to be and the splashs add to the image, The thing i dont like and its a personal thing is its a juvenille bird with a dirty colour,had it been a nice white adult i would have no nits
Posted by Nick Caddick on November 10, 2006 at 10:25 AM
Sean,
I agree with Dave the off - white of it being a juenville detracts from the overall image
Discussion
8 repliesAnother from Slimbridge, this time from the South Finger hide in the afternoon. I had a few chances of Mute Swans taking off and landing but this juvenile Mute Swan had read the manual and knew exactly the right place to touch down to give me a nice frame filling image.
Only modification was cloning out a mallard which was in the top left hand corner of the shot. I would have prefered the swan to have landed facing into the light a bit more so that is was a bit more evenly lit, maybe next time......
Canon 20D, 300mm F4L + 1.4xTC, ISO 400, f8, 1/1000th, eval metering -1/3rd, AI servo focus, manfrotto 190 tripod + 393 gimball.
cheers
Sean
I do like the water splashing at its feet, but feel that, other than this little bit of action, it is a rather static looking shot.
Maybe a bit of experiment with very slow shutter speed could have given it some movement, maybe you tried that and it didn't work
Light...you've critiqued that yourself, but I'll add that it looks to be too middle of the day type of light to do justice to a white (ish) bird.
john
John, yes I do see what you mean about it having a static look to it, I tend to agree but not sure what could help this particular shot.
I did take some slow shutter speed, motion blur, type of shots of the swans in flight, I am still deciding whether to bin them or keep them, maybe I should post one next and get some critique.
cheers
Sean
I like the image but I can see what John means - IMO I feel the main problem is it is a little too large and central in the frame. Had you given it some space to fly into i think this would have gone a long way to resolving this issue, especially as you have a little blurring in the wing!
David
I agree with John's comments and wonder if it might be just a bit tight in the frame too? I realise that the swan is dead level, but that ripple behind gives the awkward illusion of the image running from right to left.
Nonetheless, you have certainly captured him pin sharp and feather perfect.
Best wishes
Phil
great action shot. I like the pose and the effects in the water. You have mentioned the light yourself and I agree.
John
Aberdeen
I agree with Dave the off - white of it being a juenville detracts from the overall image