Two Geese at Sunrise . . .

Another of my Avain images . . .

On a VERY brisk day at "Crack of Dawn" caught the two coming out of my right peripheral view . . . I figured that by the time they came into shooting view they would lift off higher and therefore NO SHOT . . .

Instead they raced across the water and if any thing flew a bit lower when they got in the sweet spot . . . and I was ready . . . Taken w Canon 20D - Canon 400 @ 5 6.3 w 1.4 extender - so - let's see . . . 400 x .6 = 240 = 640 x .4 = 256 = 896 about 900 mm on tripod panning w motion . . . I'll get the EXIF data if anyone wants it . . . Bit of a top crop . . .

Actually I have Cropped the bottom for printing to emphasize the image

Generally I pre-focus . . . some canon auto focus is Sooo slow and I will shoot some images - correct to MY placement on the histogram adjusting the EC as necessary - Then many times I will switch to Manual . . .

There is very little done with this image in Photoshop . . . Crop - Levels a bit darker
Sharpen . . .

Dewey

Dewey,

This is nice, but you CAN post bigger if you want - up to 720 pixels. Bigger would be nicer

Bigger - Ok - Back to the Image . . .

What about the description? Too much info - Not enough - what?

Do I re-post the image - Take down the image - or how do I delete the image and replace . .

Dewey

Sweet image Dewey!! Never to much info, it's always great to read how the shot was made!
You can just reply to your own thread and attach another image no need to take this one down

The light and geese are so pretty-good job on the panning. Funny it looks like the one in back is nagging with it's beak being open-obviously mates

I cannot post new image . . . Bigger

I get the message about forum rules . . . and the 24 hour wait message . . .

Advise how to proceed to either remove the initial image - and replace or post another for comparsion or is it possible to post two images for side by side comparison or what . . .

Dewey,

Great capture with both birds having wings in the up stroke. I think the image could be improved by rotating clockwise about 3-4 degrees. The reflection at the top and the ripples under the Canada Geese make it seem the water is leaning down and to the left. Rotating it a little would level up the image in my eyes.

If your like me when shooting wildlife I don't constantly level my tripod and if hand holding a shot I sometimes don't keep it level when following the subject. Most of the time it doesn't really show but when you include a horizon or vertical and horizontal lines it can be a little distracting.

Also from a purely subjective viewpoint - if you experiment with the rotation you may find that the image gets a little tight after cropping. In and image such as this I MIGHT look at having about 1/3 of the empty space behind the geese and have them flying into about 2/3 of empty space. After cropping this might be a little too tough but this image is perfect for adding canvas / or filling in the rotation and then cloning the water - of course dependent on what you may feel crosses the line into too much manipulation.

Again nice capture.

Thanks for the comments . . .

I most always have a leveling bubble on the camera as well as levels on the tripod . . . This image was taken with what I describe as sloppy panning . . . That is at the time the tripod head I was using was NOT made for panning and following - SO - I just loosened settings and put a small bean bag on top of the lens and rested my left arm on top . . . It worked at the time - Now I have a Mongoose and can really pan smoothly . . .

Mike: I like your comments - I have several Crops of this image . . . The wonderful thing about constructive criticism is it allows fresh eyes and for me a revisit to the creative process . . .

Thanks

Dewey

I believe I'm correct in that posting a reply is permitted with image . . .

Richard I think I have the image Corrected and Sized for the Forum . . .

Advise

Dewey