Essence of wader

All about depicting the essence of a moment in time, this one.
Godwits flying off to roost at dusk.

Perhaps the blur is too much for some. Perhaps without the comparative 'sharpness' of the lead bird, I'd agree - a thin line between success and failure.

Cheers,
Chris

East coast, UK, October.

I dont mind the blur, rather different then the norm. It works for me but think it would be better if the birds were a bit larger in the frame.
Rene de Heer

Love it, like the colours and the blur, could you pm me the setting Chris as I'd love to know what/how you took this beautiful image

nice shot mate try it in panoramic

That's wonderful, Chris. The shape of the birds complements the space without the clouds well. I would have difficulty identifying the species from that image alone leaving it to the imagination - something I don't mind at all. They could be hummingbirds with the ghostly wings - the sense of scale is absent.

Nice work,

Chris

Thanks for the kind words and thoughts.

Lewis, 'great minds . . . ' and all that - the repost is a pano crop from my stock files.

Craig, Settings = ISO 1600 (sorry Danny), 1/8 @ f8, Tripod.
I decided which part of the cloud detail I wanted to include, repositioned the camera left and panned with various groups of passing birds. The godwit were at the right height, so once they reached the area of sky I'd selected I hit the shutter. The slow shutter speed produced the effect I was hoping for.

Cheers,
Chris

I quite like it, the rich tones of the sky make an excellent setting.
Seeing the two images side by side I think the original would be my favourite of the two.

Thank you Chris, don't know even with the tech's I'll get it as good as you, but thanks again for your honesty and help

Prefer rthe second. Very nice.
JohnR

I like it Chris. The subject works well with the sky and for me somewhere between the two crops would be favourite, a bit off top and bottom of original but not as much as the second. (I know, I know, I'm an awkward sod).
Robert

Thanks chaps - always nice to hear different thoughts. I think its fascinating how we react in different ways to imagery. For me, this forum is at its best when this sort of exchange takes place. Cheers.

Chris

PS. Craig, I think you're too modest about your ability but thanks for the compliment.
PPS. Robert, is being an "awkward sod" a self analysis or just what your wife tells you? Thanks for your input.

I really like the second one. Lovely setting.

Chris, I've been told so often I think I actually believe it now !!

Robert

Prefer the second Chris but perhaps a crop middway between the two would be more appropriate.

Major.

I think the 2nd works a little better but either way the colours are fantastic !

Drew

First for me. Theres a wonderful sense of space and the crop, although making 'more' of the birds, is too claustrophobic. This image is as much about the space that flight requires, as about the species flying. I really enjoy images like this that take our perceptive abilities right to the brink. You're right about the lead bird though - it really nails it. Very very nice.

Hello Chris

First for me too because the image is as much about the texture in the background as it is the birds, ISO 1600 my camera throws its dummies out of the pram at that setting, you have let the side down . Seriously I use high ISO's to achieve effects like this myself as the grain is what this image is all about. Good stuff young man.

Danny

Hi Chris

Very nice - definately the first post for me!

David

Works well, Chris. Lovely sky which obviously adds much appeal. I'd have liked to have seen a few more birds in the frame but that's just being greedy!