It is not often that we get snow buntings in Kent in May, and this individual does constitute the latest ever record for the site where the photo was taken. Nice to get the opportunity though, as not only was she very confiding, she also had a regular beat right by the site car park.
The boulder on which she is perched is good Scottish granite, brought down for sea defences, but the background is the North Sea rather than a snowy hillside. I think it works though.
My question concerns the lichen on the boulder. Most of the shot is near monochrome, do you find the lichen so bright that it overpowers the subject, or does it make a nice splash of colour? All opinions welcome.
An excellent find well recorded. From a presentation point of view I do find the lichen somewhat over powering and a little distracting more so to the right OOF patch. There again it's the environment the species was seen in so a true record also one I've yet to find.
Cracking shot David. The saturation on the lichen needs to be reduced as JR has said and then it will not be so eye catching but will then be more complimentary. See these beautiful birds in flocks on the mountains in winter but are not as confiding as this little beauty.
Nice... agree a slight desaturation of the lichen, but not too much as we are used to seeing that species of lichen as depicted, I think it compliments the slight colouration of the shoulder of the bird...
Thanks for the comments, everybody. I have tried desaturating the yellow lichen selectively, and the result is attached. I think I prefer it, so thanks to all those who made the suggestion.
I came back to this a couple of times. Initially I preferred the repost with its slightly more muted yellows, but after a few views I think I would go with the original.
Hi David, the larger version does the image justice.
I think the RP is better for the reasons stated. Think I might have gone with a higher ISO just to get a bit more SS, is this a crop or FF? Would if you have time, just see if you can open up/extract any more detail in the eye, just looks a little solid, there is a hint more there, just adds a bit more to the subject.
Discussion
16 repliesThe boulder on which she is perched is good Scottish granite, brought down for sea defences, but the background is the North Sea rather than a snowy hillside. I think it works though.
My question concerns the lichen on the boulder. Most of the shot is near monochrome, do you find the lichen so bright that it overpowers the subject, or does it make a nice splash of colour? All opinions welcome.
David
Nikon D300, 600mm Nikon, 200 ISO, 1/800th @ f 7.1
An excellent find well recorded. From a presentation point of view I do find the lichen somewhat over powering and a little distracting more so to the right OOF patch. There again it's the environment the species was seen in so a true record also one I've yet to find.
it looks very good just as it is ,i think the Lichen lifts the image rather than distracts might have been a bit dull without it.
Keith.
Cheers
JR
Nick.
greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Regards,
Paul
Rene de Heer
David
Nick.
Keith.
Cheers
JR
Dave
I think the RP is better for the reasons stated. Think I might have gone with a higher ISO just to get a bit more SS, is this a crop or FF? Would if you have time, just see if you can open up/extract any more detail in the eye, just looks a little solid, there is a hint more there, just adds a bit more to the subject.
TFS
Steve