John's recent French hawfinch makes me want to post one of mine from a fortnight ago. It's shown feeding on the floor and that's a brambling in the background. A nice change from bird on a stick with no background??? Art and science in one shot - never! Critique welcome.
EOS 5D, 600mm F4 @ F8, 1/30sec, 200ASA, Forest of Dean, March 2006. 50% crop. No cloning (except dust). No manipulation. Baited using seeds with a potential for life.
Sorry to be negative but I'm afraid this doesn't quite work for me,not sure why,I guess I find the bird being 'cut off' just below the head,a little awkward and the angle/view a little un-natural, with the darker foreground object a bit too over-powering and intrusive.
On a more positive note however,you've handled this potentially tricky exposure very well and I quite like the fact that the head is nicely lit,the image also has quite a nice intimate and different feel about it.
Hi David, I have to agree with Justin - it just doens't convince me either. On a positive note I find it interesting to see how the beak of the Hawfinch have already changed to bluish. I t shows very well here as the colour contrasts so much to the BG.
I have to agree with the above comments -still better than i have which is nothing
Posted by Rene de Heer on March 31, 2006 at 5:58 AM
Yip, i agree as well what has been said but nice to have a bird like this on file.
Rene de Heer
Posted by Mark sellings on March 31, 2006 at 6:37 AM
Hi David,
Fraid it doesn't quite work for me either - can't place why, but although its not your typical boas image it doesn't quite work as an artistic shot for me, although again I can't place why.
I think for me this would have been better with less of the dark area at the bottom, and the bird looking straight at you, As is there is to little of the bird in the frame and to much black area at the bottom.
Thanks for the comments guys. Not what I expected. Non-photographers seem to like it. It's interesting there is that difference of opinion. I'd better revert to the 2-dimensional box to keep you lot talking PS. the dark areas are the roots of a tree.
Discussion
7 repliesEOS 5D, 600mm F4 @ F8, 1/30sec, 200ASA, Forest of Dean, March 2006. 50% crop. No cloning (except dust). No manipulation. Baited using seeds with a potential for life.
Sorry to be negative but I'm afraid this doesn't quite work for me,not sure why,I guess I find the bird being 'cut off' just below the head,a little awkward and the angle/view a little un-natural, with the darker foreground object a bit too over-powering and intrusive.
On a more positive note however,you've handled this potentially tricky exposure very well and I quite like the fact that the head is nicely lit,the image also has quite a nice intimate and different feel about it.
Rene de Heer
Fraid it doesn't quite work for me either - can't place why, but although its not your typical boas image it doesn't quite work as an artistic shot for me, although again I can't place why.
And won't you think of those poor seeds
Mark
I think for me this would have been better with less of the dark area at the bottom, and the bird looking straight at you, As is there is to little of the bird in the frame and to much black area at the bottom.
Regards
Rob
Dave
Forest of Dean, UK