Posted by John Robinson on March 19, 2013 at 8:51 AM
Don't get many of these in the forest so a nice surprise at the pool yesterday
D200
Sigma 100-300mm
Slight crop
120thsec@f9
640ISO
Neat image /Image guru
One pass sharpen after downsizing.
Thanks for previous comments.
Cheers
JR
Posted by David Sewell on March 19, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Glad to see that this one does not have diseased feet. So many of them did a few years back, leading to a huge crash in numbers around here. I like the dark background, it makes the bird stand out well.
David
Posted by John Robinson on March 19, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Cheers David
Its Chaffinches here which are blighted with it. I actually got some stuff from the vet for scale on chickens and put it in the pool water,which may have helped a bit.
Cheers
JR
Posted by Jeroen Stel on March 19, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Hi John,
Agree with David that the dark BG really setts the bird of well.
Love the colors in these birds and think you did a great job capturing this one.
greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Posted by John Robinson on March 19, 2013 at 4:47 PM
Thanks .
Its always a problem with backdrops on a pool. Too many twigs ,perches and bramble branches etc and it looks cluttered, and there,s inevitably something in the wrong place. I prefer the pools in the open to this woodland one but there,s just too much water about at the moment.
JR
Posted by Neil Burton on March 20, 2013 at 4:16 AM
Nice colours John, never get these in the forest near us either so a nice suprise!
Posted by Barry Southon on March 20, 2013 at 7:00 AM
John
It's a cracker usual high quality, environment is as is I don't understand the problem, a twig a leaf what does it matter? If you're able to see a quality image of the detailed subject. Why do you take the photograph in the first place? If you removed every alleged offending twig or blade of grass the finished image is totally different to the original so why take it? Perhaps it's me and I have the wrong concept.
Posted by John Robinson on March 20, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Barry
A very interesting point you raise and we have been through this before I think. I agree with you , but if you post on a forum like this its a different ball game People seem to want a clinically clean view of the subject and once they have drawn attention to some small bit of twig etc in the "wrong" place"(in their opinion)" or a dust spot - then everybody starts to find fault and their eyes get drawn. I think most people think that we all produce our pics with publication in mind (I certainly don't)so that calls for a greater degree of "perfection" -for want of a better word.
If the background is near to the subject then it can at times get a bit messy but if its separated its not too bad. It all boils down to what you want the picture to be and what you want it for. If its for a book on bird ID for example then an isolated subject without distractions then thats OK. If you want it to be arty then some background can enhance the shot if its in the right place. If its for a critique forum then as I say- things are different. You will never win ! If you look hard enough for something to critique then you will find it. Thats maybe why often "great shot" is the only comment that can be made- because there are no glaring problems. I have to say Barry at times its often beyond me. But at the end of the day if you post on a critique forum- then you are in effect "asking for it "
If you like your shot - thats all that matters really. I am not including people just starting out where they need advice on subject positioning and obvious colour problems or focus etc. If you post a pic out of focus -then expect to be told- but that.s a different story. Going back to your original point I would say that "perfecdtion" is in the eye of the beholder.
Andy A would be better at explaining all this to you than I. At the end of the day -what do we want the pictures for ????
An article on the new digital photography age in the paper last week said that of the billions of pics taken evry day- only about 1 percent are looked at !! I do it because I like being close to nature- after all it was my proffession, and I need pics for the lectures I do. Thats my excuse
keep snapping.
Cheers
JR
Posted by Nick Mckeown on March 20, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Stunning detail on the bird JR. The partial reflection under the bird is a bit odd though as the legs are there but no body to go with them.
Nick.
Posted by John Robinson on March 20, 2013 at 3:12 PM
Nick
Look carefully and you can just see the bit of green where the body starts. My love of reflections demonstrated again If I,d shown anymore it would have been a major body chop !
Cheers
JR
Posted by Dawn Monrose on March 21, 2013 at 5:28 PM
Lovely shot John, he's a healthy, handsome looking chap. The colours really pop in this, pose and composition are spot on. I likes it and I can't see anything wrong with that!
Discussion
10 repliesD200
Sigma 100-300mm
Slight crop
120thsec@f9
640ISO
Neat image /Image guru
One pass sharpen after downsizing.
Thanks for previous comments.
Cheers
JR
David
Its Chaffinches here which are blighted with it. I actually got some stuff from the vet for scale on chickens and put it in the pool water,which may have helped a bit.
Cheers
JR
Agree with David that the dark BG really setts the bird of well.
Love the colors in these birds and think you did a great job capturing this one.
greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Thanks .
Its always a problem with backdrops on a pool. Too many twigs ,perches and bramble branches etc and it looks cluttered, and there,s inevitably something in the wrong place. I prefer the pools in the open to this woodland one but there,s just too much water about at the moment.
JR
It's a cracker usual high quality, environment is as is I don't understand the problem, a twig a leaf what does it matter? If you're able to see a quality image of the detailed subject. Why do you take the photograph in the first place? If you removed every alleged offending twig or blade of grass the finished image is totally different to the original so why take it? Perhaps it's me and I have the wrong concept.
A very interesting point you raise and we have been through this before I think. I agree with you , but if you post on a forum like this its a different ball game
If the background is near to the subject then it can at times get a bit messy but if its separated its not too bad. It all boils down to what you want the picture to be and what you want it for. If its for a book on bird ID for example then an isolated subject without distractions then thats OK. If you want it to be arty then some background can enhance the shot if its in the right place. If its for a critique forum then as I say- things are different.
If you like your shot - thats all that matters really. I am not including people just starting out where they need advice on subject positioning and obvious colour problems or focus etc. If you post a pic out of focus -then expect to be told- but that.s a different story. Going back to your original point I would say that "perfecdtion" is in the eye of the beholder.
Andy A would be better at explaining all this to you than I. At the end of the day -what do we want the pictures for ????
An article on the new digital photography age in the paper last week said that of the billions of pics taken evry day- only about 1 percent are looked at !! I do it because I like being close to nature- after all it was my proffession, and I need pics for the lectures I do. Thats my excuse
keep snapping.
Cheers
JR
Nick.
Look carefully and you can just see the bit of green where the body starts. My love of reflections demonstrated again
Cheers
JR