Posted by Lewis Thomson on February 24, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Hi all,
I've been hanging around the forum for a while and can't believe how much I have learnt from just browsing, so thank you to all who post here! I thought it was about time I submitted something so here goes.........(hope it appears on screen ok!)
Male Hawfinch taken last week near my home. Criticism and advice welcome (don't hold back!).
Canon 50D
500mm f4 IS + 1.4x
1/250
f6.3
ISO 200
Full frame.
Processed in CS3.
Cheers,
Lewis Thomson.
Posted by Ian Mason on February 24, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Full frame Lovely image of a bird I have yet to see. Nice colours, nice background. Maybe just a little too much OOF foreground but that's minor. Welcome to the forum and look forward to seeing more!
Posted by David J Slater on February 24, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Nice surprise to see you here Lewis!
Fabulous shot and full frame - just to get everyone jealous. I suspect you didn't convert the image to sRGB before posting? It looks even better with a little more "Adobe" saturation. Also a very slight magenta cast - it's subjective but just add about 10% green in the midtones and see what you think.
Sorry, but not for me, I think you needed more of a head turn , but more importantly, less softness in the image, as at the moment, there is little if any indication as to habitat.
Detail and exposure are good as is the image size for web presentation. You have a great foundation to work from here.
I like it, especially the way the out of focus foreground and background frames the bird.
A slight head-turn showing a little more of the birds eye would have been nice but I don't feel that this image doesn't work without it as I feel the concentrated stare gives the impression the bird may have spotted his next meal.
A great species to begin posting with and a fine shot.
Welcome to the forum.
Posted by Brian Davis on February 24, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Lewis,
Welcome, I've still not got the gonads to post yet so well done and a great first post. A shot many, including me, would give a body part for.
Posted by Lewis Thomson on February 25, 2009 at 3:47 AM
Cheers again guys,
Thanks for your view Ray, although the aim of this shot was to get a low level view with the oof leaves around the bird, I know lots of people prefer birds sitting on a nice lichen covered branch with perfect eye contact, but for me at least a Hawfinch picking through leaf litter at ground level is in it's typical habitat.
Brian you really should post, that Merlin was ace!!
Thanks again,
Lewis.
Posted by Philip Kirkham on February 25, 2009 at 4:38 AM
Welcome.
Phil
Posted by Dawn Monrose on February 25, 2009 at 4:54 AM
Welcome!
Beautiful first post, I love the depth of field and lovely colours.
Look forward to seeing more!
Posted by David Sewell on February 25, 2009 at 8:07 AM
Welcome to the forum,
Although I agree with Ian about the oof foreground, it is still a shot I would give my eye teeth for.
Very nice.... the hint of habitat is fine for me... with the OOF fore and Background, as said the intense stare makes up for the lack of a touch more eye contact....
Welcome and looking forward to more...
Posted by Mike Smith on February 25, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Shame about the OOF forground covering the virtual legs, but this shot really typifies the Hawfinch in habitat and exactly why their plumage mimmicks leaf litter and making them so hard to pick out when feeding.
A species I really would like to photograph some day as well, but opportunites locally are zip/zero/nada the last known Berkshire birds at Windsor Great Park seem to have gone the same way as tree sparrows for me.....
All nits mentioned, but hey, we all gotta start somewhere, I wouldn't mind a shot like this. Well done & welcome !!
Drew
Posted by Marcus Conway on February 25, 2009 at 12:22 PM
You know my thoughts on these already Lewis. Another cracking shot
Posted by Paul Ashton on February 25, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Well done Lewis. A very difficult subject to a: see b: get near enough to photograph.
Posted by Simon Litten on February 25, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Cracking shot, can't fault it.
I much prefer shots where the subject is just getting on with its life rather than striking a pose for the camera. Well done to you.
Nice website by the way - I think we're in for some treats from you.
Simon
Posted by Magnus Hird on February 28, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Really like this as is. Don't mind the OOF areas at all. Look forward to seeing more
Discussion
20 repliesHi all,
I've been hanging around the forum for a while and can't believe how much I have learnt from just browsing, so thank you to all who post here! I thought it was about time I submitted something so here goes.........(hope it appears on screen ok!)
Male Hawfinch taken last week near my home. Criticism and advice welcome (don't hold back!).
Canon 50D
500mm f4 IS + 1.4x
1/250
f6.3
ISO 200
Full frame.
Processed in CS3.
Cheers,
Lewis Thomson.
Fabulous shot and full frame - just to get everyone jealous. I suspect you didn't convert the image to sRGB before posting? It looks even better with a little more "Adobe" saturation. Also a very slight magenta cast - it's subjective but just add about 10% green in the midtones and see what you think.
Dave
Great shot,looks fine on my monitor,spot on!!
Love the low level ,my kind of shot,any with the head up side on?
Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk
You're right Dave, knocked the magenta back a little and it looks much improved on my screen.
Not of this bird I am afraid Craig, but the first real shot of the year of this species for me, more to come I hope.
Lewis.
Detail and exposure are good as is the image size for web presentation. You have a great foundation to work from here.
A slight head-turn showing a little more of the birds eye would have been nice but I don't feel that this image doesn't work without it as I feel the concentrated stare gives the impression the bird may have spotted his next meal.
A great species to begin posting with and a fine shot.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome, I've still not got the gonads to post yet so well done and a great first post. A shot many, including me, would give a body part for.
Thanks for your view Ray, although the aim of this shot was to get a low level view with the oof leaves around the bird, I know lots of people prefer birds sitting on a nice lichen covered branch with perfect eye contact, but for me at least a Hawfinch picking through leaf litter at ground level is in it's typical habitat.
Brian you really should post, that Merlin was ace!!
Thanks again,
Lewis.
Phil
Beautiful first post, I love the depth of field and lovely colours.
Look forward to seeing more!
Although I agree with Ian about the oof foreground, it is still a shot I would give my eye teeth for.
David
Welcome and looking forward to more...
A species I really would like to photograph some day as well, but opportunites locally are zip/zero/nada
Drew
I much prefer shots where the subject is just getting on with its life rather than striking a pose for the camera. Well done to you.
Nice website by the way - I think we're in for some treats from you.
Simon
Lewis.