Posted by Peter Cairns on April 19, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I've been working on setting this pool up in my backyard for months on and off. Whilst not quite there yet and an unashamed plagiarism of someone else's innovation, I'm pleased to finally get something back for the effort. Set up for late afternoon backlighting. So only a chaffinch...but my chaffinch!
Canon 1dsII, 500mm, ISO200
Peter Cairns
www.northshots.com
Posted by Andy Shepherd on April 19, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Nice shot Peter, the contrast between the Chaffinch, lovely green BG and the softer reflection works very well.
Posted by Brian Davis on April 19, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Hi Peter, no shame in admitting you copied someone else's great idea. I like how it looks. However, I have to agree with Nick, it does lack something, I suffer with the same problem with my pictures. They never seem to be "radient" I think it's my processing. I'm sure some of the other guys could give some tips and help us both. It's a lovely back lit shot though.
Looking again, the split tone (green/brown) between the real bird's background and it's water reflection doesn't sit comfortably with the eye. Ray's comment on the 'sparkle/life' is accurate - a reflector may help bring in a point light source and put a catchlight in the eye - giving it more 'life'. Will have to have a look at Bence's shots to see what he gets
Nice execution, but I'm with Nick here the 'warmth' of the reflection and the 'coldness' of the top don't seem to sit well together.....
Posted by Major Gilbert on April 20, 2009 at 3:55 AM
At the end of the day the angle of the light aint right and if you havn,t got the light right it doesn't work exactly as intended.
Peter the perch is too much in your face and not at all natural looking as I see it.
Common as they are, I find chaffinches very attractive and great to photograph. I agree with the others on this one though. Colours seem odd. I know that setup has great potential and I agree the perch is not right - maybe just too big. I look forward to seeing more.
Posted by Ian Haskell on April 20, 2009 at 5:11 PM
I was going to suggest you might want to build something like this. I have some other ideas too that I will mail you at some point!
Discussion
13 repliesCanon 1dsII, 500mm, ISO200
Peter Cairns
www.northshots.com
Nice shot Peter, the contrast between the Chaffinch, lovely green BG and the softer reflection works very well.
Andy...
Works well for me like it a lot.
Keith.
Brian
It lacks that all too important sparkle/life, and the “perch” just doesn’t look right.
Good idea tho’.
It isn’t so much what Bence gets, that is only 10% of it, its how he does it, which is the real secret.
To emulate Bence’s set-up you need either a good bricky, or some lateral thinking.
Re "Smoke and mirrors Ray... or strings and pulleys" - May be, may be not.
Nick, you should know by now that I am always speaking from either personal knowledge/experience, or good solid information.
Peter the perch is too much in your face and not at all natural looking as I see it.
Major.