Posted by Craig Jones on September 9, 2009 at 4:00 AM
While I was waiting for an otter to turn up I put my time to good use and was able to photograph alot of the wildlife on Mull in and around the coastal areas.There was a break in the rain here and when that happens the light is cleansed for a short time afterwards making it a great time to take images,here it had lifted the very dark light I had to this slightly brighter light,but I still had to look twice as this curlew was feeding not far from me,I loved how the bird blended into the habitat here, hence the title of this image.Curlews are very jumpy by nature and take off at the slightest noise or movement and this bird had'nt seen me so I was very happy with this image,and it's a perfect example of while you wait for your chosen subject to turn up there will always be other subjects that present themselves to you and hopefully you can get other image's while you wait,wait in my case for the main act to turn up
Posted by Mike Andrews on September 9, 2009 at 4:34 AM
For most images I would say that the pic is visually very busy, and thus detracts from the bird, but that is the very essence of this one.
I am not sure it works for me as a picture, but it certainly makes the point you had in mind, and in that respect, well done.
Posted by Brett Lewis on September 9, 2009 at 4:34 AM
Really shows the bird in it's environment very well and there is some amazing detail in that plumage. Only minor nit/comment I will offer is the green algae in the top right.. Being very picky though.. Good comp and I like this a lot.
Brett
Posted by David Taylor on September 9, 2009 at 6:38 AM
I think it is fine as it is, showing the bird and how it blends into its environment. That bladder wrack is great stuff for the garden, and weight-loss apparently. Another good story as well, Craig.
Posted by Duncan Armour on September 9, 2009 at 8:32 AM
I like the bird but so much of the image is out of focus that it doesn't quite work for me. Sorry.
Agree with nits above but I know how difficult Curlews are. Its nearly impossible to get anything other than an enviro shot. A nice image anyhow.
Posted by Lee Newman on September 9, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Nice image of the Curlew in its surroundings which it blends into nicely as you have shown here without loosing the details in the bird.
Lee
Posted by Jorne de Bruin on September 10, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Works great as a habitat shot
Posted by Duncan Armour on September 11, 2009 at 7:47 AM
And responding to Julian's point - "I'm guessing that the reason you've shot it wide open is precisely in order to render the background as diffuse as possible. Otherwise the bird isn't going to stand out (responding to Duncan's point)."
But it isn't the background that bothers me, it is the foreground, which makes up fully one half of the picture. For me the picture would be improved by cropping off pretty much the lower third (i.e. include none of the lower grey area). I know your goal is to show the bird in it's environment but for me large areas that are out of focus (but not pleasingly so) detract from that.
Posted by Craig Jones on September 11, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Discussion
9 repliesAll Comments And Advice Welcome
Tech;
Nikon D300
Nikon F4VR600
F5.6,1/400
iso 400,-0.3ev
Matrix
PP-CS3,Full Frame,No Crop
Thanks For Looking
I am not sure it works for me as a picture, but it certainly makes the point you had in mind, and in that respect, well done.
Brett
Lee
But it isn't the background that bothers me, it is the foreground, which makes up fully one half of the picture. For me the picture would be improved by cropping off pretty much the lower third (i.e. include none of the lower grey area). I know your goal is to show the bird in it's environment but for me large areas that are out of focus (but not pleasingly so) detract from that.