Very much still a work in progress, things are still very quiet at the feeder site so I started to explore the compositional aspects of perch and subject, there are faults with this image, and I really must pay more attention to the finer details. I am now thinking that a more targeted approach may be a good option....
All the best
Posted by John Gardner on November 13, 2006 at 4:44 AM
I like this as is. Great b/g, good composition, lots of colour and the soft light really suits the image giving it a painting-like feel. Maybe the ivy does look a little 'draped' but I don't think Joe Public would notice.
John
Posted by Larry Corbett on November 13, 2006 at 4:44 AM
VERY NICE!!
Posted by Philip Kirkham on November 13, 2006 at 5:04 AM
Hello Phil
I like the composition and BG, but I must admit that I find something a little strange about the bird in this one. I put the image in PS and enlarged slightly, and there seems to be a sort of shimmer around the chaffinch and which seems to have a sort of blur over it. It could just be my monitor or old eyes though
Best wishes
Phil
Posted by David Kjaer on November 13, 2006 at 5:10 AM
Hi Phil
Cracking image - I like the composition and beautifully processed as usual. My only nit is what John mentioned, ivy doesn't grow like this - but you could easily pin it in place or were you afraid of damaging that beautiful perch
I did say it had faults, you found one.... very poor masking for NR on the bg...., should have spent more time at it but this shot isn't going into my keepers, I want to get all the elements right...
David... working on it, the hard part is getting all the props etc looking right, I have also got a leaf that is bent under the stem of the Ivy.... like I said very much a work in progress, I am spending more time seeking suitable perches and props than taking images
All the best
Phil
Posted by Philip Kirkham on November 13, 2006 at 5:22 AM
Thanks for that Phil, I was beginning to think it was just my eyes.
Best wishes
Phil
Posted by John Swift on November 13, 2006 at 5:56 AM
Phil, I think the composition works very well indeed, the inverted "S" perch is full of interest. Can't wait to see the full production as it were.
Regards
John S
Posted by Graham Bailey on November 13, 2006 at 6:00 AM
Lovely perch and light. I actually find my attension drawn more to the perch than the bird though.
Posted by Dave Courtenay on November 13, 2006 at 6:15 AM
Hi Phil
The perch looks like drift wood and we have thousands of pieces of it in Lake Geneva-youve got me thinking here,a beautiful image and will be a winner with a few adjustments
Posted by Chas Spradbery on November 13, 2006 at 6:46 AM
Nice image - both perch and bird really stand out from the background.
Posted by Vincent Jones on November 13, 2006 at 7:39 AM
Hi Phil,
Looks like your attention to detail is paying off.Very attractive,colourful shot and a really interesting perch.
Look forward to seeing more shots from your set-up,over the coming months.
Posted by szekiat chan on November 13, 2006 at 12:24 PM
i am hardly the right person to critique a master like you but i think there's too much head space in this case. Perhaps cropping off more of the top so that the branch forms a nice S that stretches from one corner to the other with the bird close to the upper 3rd of the frame.
I like the image - though I find the bird, and especially its feet, looking a little 'cut and paste' on that perch.
Cheers
Posted by Tim Munsey on November 13, 2006 at 1:20 PM
I reckon Phillip likes it, it is grand, although has a slight plastic look as result of noise reduction I guess still flaming gorgeous.
Tim
Posted by Sean Bolton on November 13, 2006 at 1:49 PM
Hi Phil
Very attractive image. Great colour and detail, well processed and presented (other than the nit about the noise reduction halo). The perch is fabulous, although the overall result is a bit artifical it certainly looks good. Bird is possibly slightly too central, I prefer the shot if I crop a little from the bottom, but a personal taste thing rather than any fault in your image.
cheers
Sean
Posted by Alan Bryant on November 13, 2006 at 2:05 PM
Very nice .
Everything in the shot looks great
Posted by Graeme Lee on November 13, 2006 at 2:28 PM
Hi Phil,
Overall I like the image very much, in fact I love it. The processing nits that you've stated can be rectified and I must admit I didn't notice the ivy until mentioned.
Love the colours, and compositionally it's fine for me.
Gosh... didn't expect this amount of response for an image that I am still working at.... will be placing it in a folder with many others where the compositional and detail errors are marked up so that I have a reference to improve upon, hopefully all things permitting this weekend.... Running a workshop the following weekend so prob no chances then.
All the best & thanks for all the comments at least I know I am on the right track with this image and you have spurred me on to get all the elements right..
Posted by Helge Sorensen on November 14, 2006 at 11:43 AM
Hi Phil, just wishing to join in with a different opinion. Allthough I can't fault the nice photo of a Chaffinch, this doesn't really work for me. It has "setup" written all over it. Actually the perch and setup is pretty much the style of my taxidermist (and many other taxidermist I believe). I think you should find a more natural looking perch, for this kind of bird-photos.
Discussion
21 repliesHi,
Very much still a work in progress, things are still very quiet at the feeder site so I started to explore the compositional aspects of perch and subject, there are faults with this image, and I really must pay more attention to the finer details. I am now thinking that a more targeted approach may be a good option....
All the best
John
I like the composition and BG, but I must admit that I find something a little strange about the bird in this one. I put the image in PS and enlarged slightly, and there seems to be a sort of shimmer around the chaffinch and which seems to have a sort of blur over it. It could just be my monitor or old eyes though
Best wishes
Phil
Cracking image - I like the composition and beautifully processed as usual. My only nit is what John mentioned, ivy doesn't grow like this - but you could easily pin it in place or were you afraid of damaging that beautiful perch
David
I did say it had faults, you found one.... very poor masking for NR on the bg...., should have spent more time at it but this shot isn't going into my keepers, I want to get all the elements right...
David... working on it, the hard part is getting all the props etc looking right, I have also got a leaf that is bent under the stem of the Ivy.... like I said very much a work in progress, I am spending more time seeking suitable perches and props than taking images
All the best
Phil
Best wishes
Phil
Regards
John S
The perch looks like drift wood and we have thousands of pieces of it in Lake Geneva-youve got me thinking here,a beautiful image and will be a winner with a few adjustments
Vince
Phillip.
Ps yes I do like it a lot
Looks like your attention to detail is paying off.Very attractive,colourful shot and a really interesting perch.
Look forward to seeing more shots from your set-up,over the coming months.
I like the image - though I find the bird, and especially its feet, looking a little 'cut and paste' on that perch.
Cheers
Tim
Very attractive image. Great colour and detail, well processed and presented (other than the nit about the noise reduction halo). The perch is fabulous, although the overall result is a bit artifical it certainly looks good. Bird is possibly slightly too central, I prefer the shot if I crop a little from the bottom, but a personal taste thing rather than any fault in your image.
cheers
Sean
Everything in the shot looks great
Overall I like the image very much, in fact I love it. The processing nits that you've stated can be rectified and I must admit I didn't notice the ivy until mentioned.
Love the colours, and compositionally it's fine for me.
Regards
Graeme
All the best & thanks for all the comments at least I know I am on the right track with this image and you have spurred me on to get all the elements right..