Bird on a Wire

[Bob G]

Well after selling the business, relocating to a new unit, surviving Christmas and New Year and all the stuff that goes with those things, I finally managed to get the camera out this afternoon.

I think the contrast between man and nature provided the appeal here plus the late afternoon lighting on the weathered timber.

What do you guys think - comments please!

[Wink]

I like it.
The bird at the back looks just a tad out of focus to me. If that bird was sharp it would improve the image IMO because that bird seems to be looking at you.

[aim54x]

Love the reach of your lens.....drools

[wendellt]

I really like the bokeh and the tone of the image looks like its shot early morning light

[Bindii]

I wanna know how you got up there!

The dof is just fantastic!

[Ninox]

Bob

EDIT

And those comments from others on how good this is just illustrates how little most people know about photographing birds.

I am not a very good bird photographer, but I can offer a few pointers. After all, this is a critiquing forum is it not?

- Have the light come from behind you, at the subject for nice even lighting
- Get as close as possible (you get much better detail)
- Eliminate as many distracting elements as possible
- Have some eye contact with the main subject
- Place the main subject off center (most instances, but sometimes centering works

So I repeat what I offered as comment on another site where you are probably looking for praise!

To be honest the picture doesn't do anything for me. The Woodswallow plonked dead center is perfect indication of someone using the typical center AF point to attain focus, which is more on the ceramic insulator than the bird. The bird's head is angled away so there is no eye contact and the bird in the rear ads no point of interest. On top of that, the light is coming from the wrong direction too; if it came from directly behind you the front part of the post would have had nice illumination. Checking the histogram shows some blocked darks and a few blown highlights as well.
EDIT
( Sorry, you asked for comments.

[Wink]

Looks like you're here to comment about Bob, rather than his photo.

[the foto fanatic]

Ninox

It seems that you do not want to spend much time on this forum, because in your very first post you have broken two of our cardinal rules.

Firstly, you must show a meaningful location in your profile. Failure to so this will have your membership suspended.

Secondly, whilst we welcome critiques of photographs, personal criticism and snide comments are not welcome. Repeating this performance will also lead to suspension of your membership.

It seems that there is some personal animus between you and the OP that is carrying over from another forum.
DON'T BRING IT HERE.

I have edited your post. I should, perhaps, have deleted it and deleted you at the same time. Any repeat performance will see that occur.

We believe in giving people a second chance here, hence it is a warning.

We do not welcome flaming. Lift your game.

[gstark]

Hi, Ninox, and welcome.

Please take a few moments to read this site's FAQ, and in particular, also read the section in pink with red writing that is at the top of this page, and was directly and immediately above where you had just entered your message.

A couple of pointers for you, if I may ...

Putting your location into your profile is a requirement of membership of this site, and is not negotiable.

Flaming other users, and any form of personal attack, is strictly not permitted here. Please be respectful of others in everything that you do and say here.

And those comments from others on how good this is just illustrates how little most people know about photographing birds.

No, not really. That is certainly your opinion, and you are welcome to share it with us.

People are entitled to - encouraged to, even - comment about how they feel about any image posted here. You are free to agree or disagree with their opinion, but their opinion, just like yours, is exactly that - an opinion.

Some people like instant coffee too. Or watching Australian Idol. I might not agree with their choices and opinions, but I have no right to criticise their opinions. I may disagree, but not criticise.

On the other hand, members are free to critique the images of others in a professional and non-personal manner.

I am not a very good bird photographer, but I can offer a few pointers. After all, this is a critiquing forum is it not?

Yes, this forum, and especially this section, is all about critiquing of images.

But by your own admission, you state that you are not very good at this type of photography. This, too, was your very first post here, and with respect, we have no knowledge of your experience, your credentials ... basically - and without wanting to put too fine a point on it - your credibility.

So I invite you to post some of your images here. As you say you are not very good at it, by shooting and posting and accepting the critiques offered, you should see an improvement in your work, and then you should be able to remove the need for that qualification from your post.

Let me assure you that we have some of the country's most talented photographers, and the some of the country's best photographic trainers, as members here. You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

- Have the light come from behind you, at the subject for nice even lighting
- Get as close as possible (you get much better detail)
- Eliminate as many distracting elements as possible
- Have some eye contact with the main subject
- Place the main subject off center (most instances, but sometimes centering works

Now, in looking at the image that Bob submitted, you might care to note that it was shot outside, in sunlight, in a somewhat non-natural situation for the birds shown in the image. Let's more closely examine your general suggestions here ...

Being in sunlight, and with the opportunity to shoot the birds only present when the birds are in that location, that suggests to me that the use of the light, as available, is much more important that trying to get it "perfect". Better to get this shot, than no shot, right?

Most power poles that I see seem to be something in the realm of maybe 15 or 20 meters tall. I'm not convinced of the soundness of any suggestion that Bob should take a ladder and climb the pole in order to get closer to his subjects; instead, he has used a long lens to achieve his goal, with a reasonable outcome. How would you suggest he gets closer to these very flighty and elusive subjects?

I would contend that, for this image, the elements that we see - the birds, the wires, and the parts of the power pole structure, are all essential elements for an image that tries to depict a contrast between modern man-made life and nature.

I agree that eye contact in an image is good. I can see how, though, in this instance - because of the distances and heights involved - Bob might have had a wee bit of difficulty in enticing these birds to look at him. I don't know if he threw birdseed in their direction, but I suspect that that may not have helped either.

In point of fact, I suspect that Bob knows more than just a little about image composition, and the choices he has about where to place primary and secondary subjects within an image. Your suggestion here is valid for some images, but it might not be valid for others.

To be honest the picture doesn't do anything for me. The Woodswallow plonked dead center is perfect indication of someone using the typical center AF point to attain focus,

Why would you say this? We have no such information, and no basis upon which to make that statement. In fact, if you look at the insulator, you might notice that while its closest edge (to the photographer) appears to be in focus, its securing bolt - at the top of the insulator - is not in sharp focus. But the bird's head is fully in focus, with feather detail being clearly seen. The insulator is clearly at the edge of the DoF that the (long) lens in use offers for the given aperture, and this is more clearly illustrated by the fact that the second bird in the image is quite softly focused.

My criticisms of this image would be to observe that the wb is slightly off, and that, for the composition, I might have liked to see the image with the bird moved a little towards the right of this frame as we see it, so that it appears to be "looking into" the image.

In saying that, I recognise that this means panning the camera a little to the left, but we have no knowledge of the various challenges and options that Bob was presented with when making this image. Perhaps there were just wires there, wires which might not have helped Bob to present the image as he wished. I don't know. Perhaps Bob wished to have the leading lines of the parts of the pole that he chose to include in the image?

Again, I don't know. I wasn't there, making the image, and making those decisions. Bob was, and he has presented his image for critique, and he accepts and discusses those critiques as need be.

I respect him for that. I invite you to share your images, and have yourself benefit from honest critique.

[ozimax]

Great image Bob, love it, very different in it's aspect. How about a BW conversion?

Ozi

[surenj]

Hey Bob, how about a pano crop to get rid of deadspace?

[Bob G]

Thanks for the comments guys - appreciate it.

[Bindii]

Me thinks that someone got out of bed on the wrong side this morning...

I want to second everything that Gary said and as always he manages to say exactly what most of us are thinking but oh so eloquently.. well at least a hell of a lot nicer than I would have if I had of gotten in first.. I suspect that Ninox has either followed Bob here from another forum and joined expressly to ridicule.. or is an exisiting member who hasn't the balls to say what he said in his own name.. either way I doubt that Ninox will take the time to try and become a contributing and valued member of this forum..

so Ninox have a nice day...

and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out..

[CraigVTR]

Bob
I agree with the comment about a different crop and the wonderful light. I do not think it is a bird image and from your previous work I know this one is about the contrasting setting rather than the bird as you have said. I do feel it would have been stronger with both birds in focus.

I know you are tall, but you must have been leaning out a second story window for this shot.

[Killakoala]

Well I think it's a lovely photo Bob.

[DebT]

Great shot Bob, love the light, colors, DOF ..just a great shot
Looks like you've had a busy start to the year so glad youv'e had a chance to relax and take some shots
DebT