Posted by Paul Hillion on September 9, 2007 at 5:10 PM
Taken at La Claire Mare NR, Guernsey. Canon 500mm f/4L IS with 1.4x and 30D, ISO 200, 1/500 sec. at f/11 in Av mode, tripod, full frame.
One from last week. I'd found myself a nice little spot hidden in amongst the reeds at one of our local reserves. Quite a frustrating little bird to capture as it never seemed to stay still the entire time I watched it doing its circuits of the pond. This is one of 3 decent shots I got of the bird during my week of evenings sitting in the same spot.
Thanks
Paul
Guernsey
Posted by Paul Gibbs on September 9, 2007 at 6:22 PM
Nice shot, these are absolute swines to nail. Luckily they nest near me but even so they hate to stand still!
Posted by Nigel Blake on September 10, 2007 at 12:05 AM
Very nicely exposed but too central in frame for me, a tilt down would have lost some of that space above the bird and gained the full reflection of it, this would have added to the composition greatly.
Posted by Andy Astbury on September 10, 2007 at 2:46 AM
Paul, well exposed with ecellent highlight control, but as Nigel says, the comp lets it down a bit.
It's never a good idea to crop a defined reflection and placing the subject dead center, to be brutally honest, is a bit 'happy snappy'.
If you can, repost it with a better comp
Posted by Paul Hillion on September 10, 2007 at 3:32 AM
Thanks for the advice guys. That's why I enjoy this forum so much, you get lots of constructive and helpful advice rather than 20 replies all saying 'wonderful image, thanks for sharing'.
Posted by Paul Hillion on September 10, 2007 at 3:37 AM
Actually I have a question..I was always under the impression that it would always be a better shot if one got down as low as possible level with the birds eyeline. However with what Nigel and Andy are saying I guess that's not always the case?
Posted by Andy Astbury on September 10, 2007 at 3:53 AM
Paul, not quite with you on this one mate
Subject eyeline is critical no matter whether you are shooting ducks on the water or dames with no clothes on!
What we both mean is basically nothing to do with eyeline - it's to do with a thing called the Rule of Thirds - try this http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/rule-of-thirds/ - been around since the year dot and is what helps any visual image look more appealing.
Posted by Paul Hillion on September 10, 2007 at 4:05 AM
Ahhh ok Andy thanks, yes sorry I understand. Still got a lot to learn
Posted by John Chapman on September 10, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Great capture in a nice setting Paul and the nits have been covered.
John
Aberdeen
Discussion
10 repliesOne from last week. I'd found myself a nice little spot hidden in amongst the reeds at one of our local reserves. Quite a frustrating little bird to capture as it never seemed to stay still the entire time I watched it doing its circuits of the pond. This is one of 3 decent shots I got of the bird during my week of evenings sitting in the same spot.
Thanks
Paul
Guernsey
It's never a good idea to crop a defined reflection and placing the subject dead center, to be brutally honest, is a bit 'happy snappy'.
If you can, repost it with a better comp
Subject eyeline is critical no matter whether you are shooting ducks on the water or dames with no clothes on!
What we both mean is basically nothing to do with eyeline - it's to do with a thing called the Rule of Thirds - try this http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/rule-of-thirds/ - been around since the year dot and is what helps any visual image look more appealing.
John
Aberdeen
Tim