I have got quite into environmental/habitat shots recently; the reason being that most of the public (that I talk to at least) don't appear to correlate the welfare the environment with the welfare of the animal. This type of shot is to show that the two are inextricably linked and if anything the environment is the bigger issue.
Nice Tom, I too am fond of this type of imagery, I wonder here whether the bird is in the best place in the frame.... I have found that for this to work best the subject is often best placed in one of the strongest points of the composition, whilst the bunting is on a third it is not on one of the intersections which IMO weakens the overall effect.... Only my own personal view, others I know will have differing opinions.
Posted by John Swift on February 5, 2007 at 4:45 AM
Tom, I like this a great deal. Subject positioning I suspect will arouse some comment but for me I feel that with the strong diagonal of the perch, which is part of your subject matter here) it works very well.
I also like the very simple colour palette present in the composition.
Nice work.
Regards
JohnS
Posted by Peter Barritt on February 5, 2007 at 6:25 AM
bags of atmosphere. a horizontal crop (say 30% of image) cutting out the back reed would also make another great photo. Pete
Posted by Mark Sisson on February 5, 2007 at 6:41 AM
I'm also a great fan of environmental context images - as much as I'm looking for pictures to sell I'm also looking for images that will inform and educate in exactly the way that you describe Tom, and as a writer as well as a photographer it provides a potentially potent combination.
As for this I like it - I can see the dilemma regarding seeking that point of conjoining thirds as you would have lost either tyhe attractive perch or the use of the rear one to add a greater dimension to the backdrop - all in all I think it works well.
Nice! I had to put up with rich golden light when I photographed this chap (gal?) the other day (see my website). With the cooler light and sense of space it makes the reedbed look a lonely place - only a grouchy bittern for company.
Dave
Forest of Dean, UK
Posted by Sean Bolton on February 6, 2007 at 5:29 PM
Hi Tom
Very nice image, great composition and colours. I see Phil's point about the position of the bird in the frame, but the reed stems make the composition work for me.
Excellent image
cheers
Sean
Posted by Tony Beazley on February 9, 2007 at 1:18 AM
I like the comp on it . It gives it some depth and shows just how far into the reed vegetation it is. I like to see some background vegetation in certain photos .....such as this one. Nice and peaceful looking
Discussion
7 repliesI have got quite into environmental/habitat shots recently; the reason being that most of the public (that I talk to at least) don't appear to correlate the welfare the environment with the welfare of the animal. This type of shot is to show that the two are inextricably linked and if anything the environment is the bigger issue.
500mm/TC14/BB
1000'/F5.6/400ASA
FF/USM(150,0.2,1)*3/Levels
I also like the very simple colour palette present in the composition.
Nice work.
Regards
JohnS
As for this I like it - I can see the dilemma regarding seeking that point of conjoining thirds as you would have lost either tyhe attractive perch or the use of the rear one to add a greater dimension to the backdrop - all in all I think it works well.
Mark
Dave
Forest of Dean, UK
Very nice image, great composition and colours. I see Phil's point about the position of the bird in the frame, but the reed stems make the composition work for me.
Excellent image
cheers
Sean
Tony B
USA