Posted by Barry Southon on November 12, 2012 at 4:46 PM
I know I'm full of questions and I thank you all for trying to put me right I do so appreciate your time and effort. Yesterdays post was a prime example even had two further comments off forum.
Just by way of illustration I'm improving here is a Hawk who's eye I caught.
Not a great position I know but its the bird I wanted.
Canon 5Dmk111 Canon 100mm-400mm f/4.5 ISO100 1/400sec f/7.1 400mm HH
from vehicle. RAW to Ltrm4 PS CS5 resized to post.
Critique, Comments and Advice sought and appreciated.
Thanks for looking.
Posted by John Robinson on November 12, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Barry
The bird needs to be over to the right if possible. You don't say what the crop is.
Cheers
JR
Posted by keith mitchell on November 13, 2012 at 3:17 AM
Barry the bird itself looks very good not so sure about the composition it does looka bit central.
Keith.
Posted by Barry Southon on November 13, 2012 at 5:40 AM
John
Thanks, but why?
Posted by David Sewell on November 13, 2012 at 8:24 AM
I agree with John. As it is, the space behind the bird is contributing nothing to the picture overall. If you position the bird further to the right you are giving it more room to look into as well. It is one of the basic rules of composition. They are only rules, so break them if you wish, but best to have a good reason for doing so.
Also agree, plus would add that the tail is a bit too close to the frame edge for me. Pulling the 100-400 back to 380 may have given a bit more room to move and a sharper image depending on the sharpness of your individual 100-400.
I know that time is an issue when trying to make the most of an opportunity and you do have a good record of a great sighting. Very different from sitting in a hide planning were things are going to happen.
All the best
Ian
Posted by Barry Southon on November 13, 2012 at 8:49 AM
David
My very point is simple why the rule? The bird is looking at me so does it still apply? Just trying to understand the rule.
Ian
I couldn't agree more even trying to move from the vehicle will spook the subject and all is lost apart from yet another bird in flight butt.
Environments don't always enhance a shot as is this case but IMHO a nice iamge of the hawk remains so why lose it?
Posted by Bob Johnson on November 13, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Got to agree with David. Also given the birds head psoition I think that it is possibly looking out of the image a little. If possible I would crop it so the birds eye is close to the vertical centre line. A single creature will invariably look better if it is looking or flying into the picture. The rule of thirds can be helpful and I always flip my images to see if they look any better facing the other way. There is a school of thought that the human brain reacts better to an image if the creature is facing or moving from left to right.
A note about the crop would be useful when judging the sharpness of the picture. If it is a crop perhaps you could pull back a bit and make more use of the perch as it is often where you see these birds and would not look out of place in my opinion.
Using 380 on your 100-400 is excellent advice
Bob
Posted by David Sewell on November 13, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Barry,
It is only a rule - not a law. The rules of composition are simply that, rules about what looks good to the eye. There is therefore a fair degree of individual interpretation possible.
However, to most of us a subject looks more aesthetically pleasing if it is positioned along a third of the frame, and is not staring out of that frame. A fairly simple rule, that dates way back before the days of photography. Unfortunately, when an artist breaks the rules it is always clear that they have chosen to do so deliberately, but with photographers you never quite know!
It would matter less (at least in my opinion) if the bird was looking directly at you, but it is looking to one side.
David
Posted by John Robinson on November 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Barry
All been explained I think. No hard and fast rule, but think of this- if you were taking a shot of a friend -would you put their head where the birds head is ? I doubt it.
Cheers
JR
Posted by Phil Ellard on November 13, 2012 at 3:01 PM
My advice next time take the shot you want, then take the shot that John and David advise I don't think you would ask why when you viewed them both side by side, it is about what looks more comfortable
Posted by Nick Mckeown on November 13, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Hi Barry, agree with the other comments that the bid is too far to the left and is a little tight at the bottom edge. Cropping is always going to be personal but as has been pointed out there are some basic rules to follow which will lead to a well balanced image. The more images you make Barry the easier it becomes as you will automatically frame the subject without having to think too much about it.
Discussion
11 repliesJust by way of illustration I'm improving here is a Hawk who's eye I caught.
Not a great position I know but its the bird I wanted.
Canon 5Dmk111 Canon 100mm-400mm f/4.5 ISO100 1/400sec f/7.1 400mm HH
from vehicle. RAW to Ltrm4 PS CS5 resized to post.
Critique, Comments and Advice sought and appreciated.
Thanks for looking.
The bird needs to be over to the right if possible. You don't say what the crop is.
Cheers
JR
Keith.
Thanks, but why?
David
Also agree, plus would add that the tail is a bit too close to the frame edge for me. Pulling the 100-400 back to 380 may have given a bit more room to move and a sharper image depending on the sharpness of your individual 100-400.
I know that time is an issue when trying to make the most of an opportunity and you do have a good record of a great sighting. Very different from sitting in a hide planning were things are going to happen.
All the best
Ian
My very point is simple why the rule? The bird is looking at me so does it still apply? Just trying to understand the rule.
Ian
I couldn't agree more even trying to move from the vehicle will spook the subject and all is lost apart from yet another bird in flight butt.
Environments don't always enhance a shot as is this case but IMHO a nice iamge of the hawk remains so why lose it?
A note about the crop would be useful when judging the sharpness of the picture. If it is a crop perhaps you could pull back a bit and make more use of the perch as it is often where you see these birds and would not look out of place in my opinion.
Using 380 on your 100-400 is excellent advice
Bob
It is only a rule - not a law. The rules of composition are simply that, rules about what looks good to the eye. There is therefore a fair degree of individual interpretation possible.
However, to most of us a subject looks more aesthetically pleasing if it is positioned along a third of the frame, and is not staring out of that frame. A fairly simple rule, that dates way back before the days of photography. Unfortunately, when an artist breaks the rules it is always clear that they have chosen to do so deliberately, but with photographers you never quite know!
It would matter less (at least in my opinion) if the bird was looking directly at you, but it is looking to one side.
David
All been explained I think. No hard and fast rule, but think of this- if you were taking a shot of a friend -would you put their head where the birds head is ? I doubt it.
Cheers
JR
Nick.