Posted by Dave Bartlett on March 31, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Well, yes, it's just a blue tit. However, I don't often take 'set up' shots but wanted to try and make a better effort at it when I do, so having selected the background and the perch for the most likely customer I hoped the birds would do the rest. Given that I have to fight these off in the garden, it took a surprisingly long time before I got what I wanted.
However, the question is, does this work, or does it look just too contrived? I'd be interested in views ..
Dave
1DMkIII + 500mm + 1.4xTC
1/200sec at f/5.6 and ISO400. +1/3EV
Routine stuff in LR2. Approx 85% of the frame.
Technically the picture is great. I have recently done something similar with a set up.
I'm not sure if the question is whether it works or not. Personally, I've seen so many similar images, it can be difficult to remain objective and treat each shot as an individual. With lots of similar images, it's easy to gloss over them and I think that's something to avoid.
It's frustrating because, being relatively new to photography, so much of what you try and produce is already there. It's trying to find a different way of showing the mundane. You know all this already.
On the other hand, if one were to become a renowned photographer would it be expected that one would have a 'typical' shot of x, y, z, species just to 'have them in the bag'? If you went to a well known professional and searched a database for something mundane, you would expect to find several shots, no? Everyone has to start somewhere and what better training ground than in your back garden?
Something I've been querying recently.
This all assumes the photographer wants to have photos published etc. If not then the self-satisfaction after criticism should be enough to answer any questions. That's my view
Chris
Posted by Danny Green on March 31, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Hello Dave
No this is not too contrived it is a nice clean portrait of a popular subject both in terms of the public and photographers. I personally don't like images with cluttered backgrounds and in messy bushes so I always try and get images of whatever I am doing like this one. I also think that it is a great way to start by working on stuff in the garden as you can alter your backgrounds easy and you can refine your technique and learn from your mistakes. Nice shot I like it.
Clean, simple, uncluttered and sharp - it works for me.
I may have been tempted to leave the top of the perch in (it looks like it is snapped just at the top of the frame), if it looked natural i.e, not sawn....
I have been doing photography for over a year now and I was spoilt at the start by joining friends to take photos of redstart, flycatchers, boar etc. I am still taking crappy shots because i didn't get the basics right. I look at pics on this site and am amazed at the quality of the postings. I am revisiting the simple stuff to try and get the techniques right, I look at your pic and it shows me I'm right to do so. Get the basics right and the rest follows.
Looks perfectly fine to me.... only thing I would say is that I feel the perch is a little dominant for your subject... I always feel that a delicate bird looks better on a delicate perch if that makes sense...
I like how the colour of the lichen echoes the yellow on the bird.
Have to agree with Phil here.. nice work and does exactly what is says on the tin! Shows a great little bird without any distraction. Works well for me. I'd try not to show any snapped or sawn bits of the set-up if it were mine though.
Brett
Posted by Dawn Monrose on April 1, 2009 at 6:00 AM
Lovely shot, and I couldn't agree more with the comments so far. I've recently started a garden bird project, and I love the way you can get shots with nice clean backgrounds showing the birds to their best, but also it's great to get a chance to experiment, see what works and what doesn't and maybe even get a bit creative.
Good work!
Posted by John Chapman on April 1, 2009 at 6:07 AM
Hi Dave
I agree with what has been said but would add that if you are going to the trouble of setting up an image, you might want to be a little more creative with the props you use.
The 'bird on a stick' approach is tried and tested but with so many top quality images of blue tits on sticks already in existance, adding a 'twist' can make all the difference - a different, unusual perch would have lifted your technically competent image beyond the ordinary. I guess that is a long winded way of saying yes it works but it doesn't hold my attention.
Discussion
11 repliesHowever, the question is, does this work, or does it look just too contrived? I'd be interested in views ..
Dave
1DMkIII + 500mm + 1.4xTC
1/200sec at f/5.6 and ISO400. +1/3EV
Routine stuff in LR2. Approx 85% of the frame.
Technically the picture is great. I have recently done something similar with a set up.
I'm not sure if the question is whether it works or not. Personally, I've seen so many similar images, it can be difficult to remain objective and treat each shot as an individual. With lots of similar images, it's easy to gloss over them and I think that's something to avoid.
It's frustrating because, being relatively new to photography, so much of what you try and produce is already there. It's trying to find a different way of showing the mundane. You know all this already.
On the other hand, if one were to become a renowned photographer would it be expected that one would have a 'typical' shot of x, y, z, species just to 'have them in the bag'? If you went to a well known professional and searched a database for something mundane, you would expect to find several shots, no? Everyone has to start somewhere and what better training ground than in your back garden?
Something I've been querying recently.
This all assumes the photographer wants to have photos published etc. If not then the self-satisfaction after criticism should be enough to answer any questions. That's my view
Chris
No this is not too contrived it is a nice clean portrait of a popular subject both in terms of the public and photographers. I personally don't like images with cluttered backgrounds and in messy bushes so I always try and get images of whatever I am doing like this one. I also think that it is a great way to start by working on stuff in the garden as you can alter your backgrounds easy and you can refine your technique and learn from your mistakes. Nice shot I like it.
Danny
I may have been tempted to leave the top of the perch in (it looks like it is snapped just at the top of the frame), if it looked natural i.e, not sawn....
Well done.
I like how the colour of the lichen echoes the yellow on the bird.
Brett
Good work!
Dave
Smooth backgrounds are good for 2 reasons:
1. there's nothing in the image to compete visually with the subject.
2.smooth backgrounds give picture buyers more to 'play with' in the form of text overlay and general editorial layout.
The background in your shot is great and it makes the subject stand out - perfect
I agree with what has been said but would add that if you are going to the trouble of setting up an image, you might want to be a little more creative with the props you use.
The 'bird on a stick' approach is tried and tested but with so many top quality images of blue tits on sticks already in existance, adding a 'twist' can make all the difference - a different, unusual perch would have lifted your technically competent image beyond the ordinary. I guess that is a long winded way of saying yes it works but it doesn't hold my attention.
Cheers,
Chris