Sitting in the away end

It's been a long, long time since I posted anything, mainly down to doing very little photography over the past 12 months, I'm gradually getting back into it, here's one from my trip last week to Snettisham.

Techs:
Nikon D2X
600mm AFS + 1.4x TC
1/500 @f5.6 ISO100

PP in Lightroom
Cropped to remove extra Oca's

I also have a new website, let me know what you think.

Mark
http://www.pefola.co.uk

I love the composition on this but somehow the image doesn't look quite right. The Oystercatcher almost looks pasted on. Have you used selective sharpening or something Mark?
Robert

I know what you're saying Robert, I've not used selective sharpening nor pasted it on, without any sharpening the Oystercatcher has a strange look, I put this down to all the birds becoming highly alert, hence everyone looking in the same direction.

The Oystercatcher stands out well and really grabs your attention. Cropping this to a panoramic format would work well too IMO, just enough to lose the birds which are in flight.

I have reduced the amount of sharpening to the whole image, unfortunately I don't know how to repost the image on here, so please follow the link and let me know if it is any better.

and also a Panoramic version

Thanks for looking,

Mark

I love it! I take the point about the OC looking a little odd, but the whole image is maybe a little contrasty. Maybe if you reduced it a little, that would help. I looked at the linked versions and strugged to see a real difference (my eyes must be getting old). I do think cropping above the OOF birds is better. Overall, it's a cracking image.

Never easy this.... I would go for the pan crop which gets rid of the oof flying birds in the fg, as said perhaps a slight reduction of the contrast, still a fascinating image and a pleasure to view....

Nits covered. I always like a good title, this one is brilliant . I laughed as soon as I saw the picture.

David

Excellent picture, apt title. I like the balance of the orginal format but works better for me without the oof birds in flight - so panoramic crop wins overall.

Excellent shot Mark

Any nits already covered

A very interesting capture there Mark.

Des

lovely. love the way they are all looking in the same direction.

I think both image formats work on this one Mark, though I prefer the pano.

Andy...

The idea and taking of the images has worked well but it just goes to show sometimes you need a degree in processing to get the best out of things if you see what I mean.

Major.

Top quality shot, works well and made me chuckle when opening the image, it's something that I have had to do all too often, it's even worse when my team wins !

Drew

As an Englishman living in Wales, I've felt like that for far too many years (at football matches and elsewhere!). Lovely image, although I agree about cropping out the foreground flying birds.

Stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it well done

Fab shot. I love these patterns that occur in nature. I also had fun finding a knot going the 'wrong way'