Z, but do you prefer A or B?

BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
edited February 17, 2011 in Wildlife
A: 98mm (nominal)

1175373828_nH5Sr-M.jpg


B: 84mm (nominal)

1175374015_UAfhF-M.jpg

Looking to see whether you like the tighter crop - I think I prefer B as one sees more of the "habitat".

First time in a while that I've had a chance to take some pics in sunlight...
Birds
Bugs
Spiders
Flowers

Comments

  • puzzledpaulpuzzledpaul Registered Users Posts: 1,621 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2011
    A - but it depends whether you want to indicate (to a greater extent) that this is on some 'highish' ground - or not.
    Also the darker bg in 1 (LHS) competes with the subject to a lesser degree (imo) than B.

    Is the vegetation / foliage import to a Zebra ( food / shelter etc) - or is it what just happened to be there - if latter, have you considered blurring it a little?

    pp
    Website

    Flickr
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited February 2, 2011
    They're both cracking shots with excellent details when you look at the larger size in your gallery. #1 is cropped too tight at the tail. So either #2, or something in between. A shallower depth of field would have been nice it were possible.
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2011
    B. First one seems crowded at bottom and right of frame.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2011
    Rather than make a redundant comment, I'll choose the "Z". :D

    Very nice, Al.thumb.gif
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2011
    Yep, the 'Z' wins :)
    My personal preference is for 'B', though. I like to be able to see a bit more of the background.
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    Thanks all for taking the time to give your thoughts - I really appreciate it.

    I unfortunately only took the Bigma with me on this drive, so couldn't really get much less DoF. I will carry a lens with larger aperture in future as the animals are getting more used to people close to them.

    The pics are clickable, taking you to the largest size I've uploaded (1000x667 pixels)

    Here's another that like because of the flowers:

    1175371970_ZGRpy-M.jpg
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    I hope I do as well in October Al. I would go with B.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • NaturebiteNaturebite Registered Users Posts: 60 Big grins
    edited February 3, 2011
    I like the B image. Just because it's airy and more the habitat around.
    This same situation is also when we show the bird "portraits", I like bird images with vegetation around and ground etc.
    _________________________
    Risto Talman
    NatureBite Photo
    Galleries: naturebitephoto.net
    Home: www.talman.fi
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 6, 2011
    Thanks Harry & Risto!

    B-type pics look like what I should be looking at :D
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 10, 2011
    My models were available again this morning, so I posed this mare as well as I could :D

    These pics were taken with a Sigma 24-135 @ f/4.5 and 88mm

    1183259655_h4gZN-M.jpg

    1183260935_Jq9vR-M.jpg

    1183261891_mF3DR-M.jpg

    So, do you prefer the softer background in these pics?
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 10, 2011
    The background is beautiful, and so is your model. I hope she was well paid? ;) Oh yeah... and your pictures aren't half bad either ;)

    Seriously, lovely images.

    What are the strange bag-like things hanging from the tree in the background of these last three shots?
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 11, 2011
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    The background is beautiful, and so is your model. I hope she was well paid? ;) Oh yeah... and your pictures aren't half bad either ;)

    Seriously, lovely images.

    What are the strange bag-like things hanging from the tree in the background of these last three shots?

    Thanks Lindiwe!

    The "bag-like things" are nests of the Masked Weaver. Here a male building a nest:

    235442059_ipfB9-M.jpg

    ...and a completed nest:

    239081837_tsevs-M.jpg
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 11, 2011
    That's a loooot of nests hanging from that one tree. Thanks so much for the explanation - illustrated, no less!
  • PDRJohnPDRJohn Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited February 11, 2011
    Got to admit- I like the way you post. Answer with pictures.clap.gif

    With great photos no less.
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    That's a loooot of nests hanging from that one tree. Thanks so much for the explanation - illustrated, no less!

    :D Sometimes you get hundreds in one tree!
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    PDRJohn wrote: »
    Got to admit- I like the way you post. Answer with pictures.clap.gif

    With great photos no less.

    Thanks for your kind words!
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    While I was busy, I also tried my hand at some portraits (I prefer whole birds/animals but had to show that I can do it :)

    Sigma 24-135:

    1183270411_ZiuTH-M.jpg


    I then changed to the Bigma to get a bit closer:

    1183273176_6xego-M.jpg


    (sorry, I forgot that Wisdom of the Web says the Bigma can't take pics wide open rolleyes1.gif)
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
  • LindiweLindiwe Registered Users Posts: 606 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    Oddly, I like the first portrait better than the second one. Not that there is anything the least bit wrong with the second one. :)
  • Wil DavisWil Davis Registered Users Posts: 1,692 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    When I look at "A" I get the feeling that the Zebra is thinking "Do these pajamas make my butt look big???"

    so the answer must be "B"

    - Wil
    "…………………" - Marcel Marceau
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2011
    Hey Al..In the first set I like B. A seems too crowded. In the next set of your lovely model, I like the middle pic and finally in the last two portrait pics, I like the first one. Cool weaver shot too!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2011
    Cool zebra shots, BigAl! I also like your weaver shot!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited February 17, 2011
    Lindiwe wrote: »
    Oddly, I like the first portrait better than the second one. Not that there is anything the least bit wrong with the second one. :)
    Wil Davis wrote: »
    When I look at "A" I get the feeling that the Zebra is thinking "Do these pajamas make my butt look big???"

    so the answer must be "B"

    - Wil
    Maestro wrote: »
    Hey Al..In the first set I like B. A seems too crowded. In the next set of your lovely model, I like the middle pic and finally in the last two portrait pics, I like the first one. Cool weaver shot too!
    raptorcaptor wrote: »
    Cool zebra shots, BigAl! I also like your weaver shot!

    Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply. I am starting to get a better idea as to how composition appeals to folks and will try to apply this when I take pics. We get told to use deadspace in front of an animal in order to give it "space to move into", but I've been finding recently that does not always appeal to others - and after all, they are the ones that count.
    Birds
    Bugs
    Spiders
    Flowers
Sign In or Register to comment.