If at first you don't succeed.....

SeamusSeamus Registered Users Posts: 1,573 Major grins
edited January 2, 2005 in Wildlife
I went to the harbour this morning. I would appreciate any comments or hints, hopefully there's some improvement from yesterday:bash

1:

13467226-M.jpg


2:

13467225-M.jpg

3:

13467223-M.jpg


4:

13467224-M.jpg


originals are here : http://seamus.smugmug.com/gallery/338670/1/13467224


Fwiw, canon 20d, sigma 70 - 200, camera set to p.

Comments

  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    Shay, I like how close you got on the first shot. Have you thought about getting really low, so the bird is silhouetted against the sky/horizon? Might look nice and blurrier than shooting against the ground.

    Sorta like this.

    13428828-S.jpg
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • SeamusSeamus Registered Users Posts: 1,573 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    wxwax wrote:
    Shay, I like how close you got on the first shot. Have you thought about getting really low, so the bird is silhouetted against the sky/horizon? Might look nice and blurrier than shooting against the ground.

    Sorta like this.
    Thanks for the tip thumb.gif. There's more to this photo business than meets the eye mwink.gif
  • TheSenatorTheSenator Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    I'm by no means an expert or even amateur, but your photos all have a slight problem with composition. All of them have a strongly centered subject and #4 feels like the bird will fly out of the frame. Try just recropping it so that the bird flies into the frame and leads your eye. And on that gallery I like the first photo the best, some nice cropping would really make it pop.
    Gallery: TheSenator
  • SeamusSeamus Registered Users Posts: 1,573 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    TheSenator wrote:
    I'm by no means an expert or even amateur, but your photos all have a slight problem with composition. All of them have a strongly centered subject and #4 feels like the bird will fly out of the frame. Try just recropping it so that the bird flies into the frame and leads your eye. And on that gallery I like the first photo the best, some nice cropping would really make it pop.
    I like it also, thanks for the tips. I cropped it, what do you think?

    13486411-M.jpg

    shay.
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    Some tips that might help
    Here are some easy tips for composition, etc.

    http://www.betterphoto.com/exploring/tips.asp

    Flying gulls are hard to get, you're doing fine. More practice, practice, practice and you'll have the camera action down pat. Then comes composition. Once you are at ease with capturing the birds well, got your timing down, etc., then you can concentrate on waiting for the bird to fly into the magic spot.

    I'm not a pigeon lover, but I do admire the irridescent quality of the feathers you captured.
  • SeamusSeamus Registered Users Posts: 1,573 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    I'm going through the photos I took today and cropped this one.


    13487241-M.jpg

    Your opinions, hints & and critique are welcome. And happy new year :slosh
  • SeamusSeamus Registered Users Posts: 1,573 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    Dee wrote:
    Here are some easy tips for composition, etc.

    http://www.betterphoto.com/exploring/tips.asp

    Flying gulls are hard to get, you're doing fine. More practice, practice, practice and you'll have the camera action down pat. Then comes composition. Once you are at ease with capturing the birds well, got your timing down, etc., then you can concentrate on waiting for the bird to fly into the magic spot.

    I'm not a pigeon lover, but I do admire the irridescent quality of the feathers you captured.
    Thanks Dee.
  • TheSenatorTheSenator Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited January 1, 2005
    Composition is hard, especially with birds. They fly fast and defy autofocus (on my lil C-740 at least) but this is what I thought of when I said to compose the crop so the bird flies into it. The line from the top of the wing flows to the bottom. Sorta rules of thirds. A great place to get down to earth help is http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php its just well done and the composition help really is good. Keep working at it, I love alot of the pictures.
    (The swan is really great)
    Gallery: TheSenator
  • SeamusSeamus Registered Users Posts: 1,573 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2005
    TheSenator wrote:
    Composition is hard, especially with birds. They fly fast and defy autofocus (on my lil C-740 at least) but this is what I thought of when I said to compose the crop so the bird flies into it. The line from the top of the wing flows to the bottom. Sorta rules of thirds. A great place to get down to earth help is http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php its just well done and the composition help really is good. Keep working at it, I love alot of the pictures.
    (The swan is really great)
    Thanks for the help thumb.gif
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2005
    Composition, heck, with a flying bird? You can always change that in post.

    I was checking the eyes, they are much better. The eyes and the feathers make the bird, IMO. Usually.

    Shooting up isn't a bad idea. If you have a chance, a sitting duck, so to speak, shoot it every which way. Remember I shot Olde Weary Bill from the curb, sky behind him. Folks seemed to like it. I, myself, I was comfortable on the curb.

    ginger

    (my downloads are so slow, a song takes longer to download than to play and sing..................thursday?)
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • SeamusSeamus Registered Users Posts: 1,573 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2005
    Thanks
    ginger_55 wrote:
    Composition, heck, with a flying bird? You can always change that in post.

    I was checking the eyes, they are much better. The eyes and the feathers make the bird, IMO. Usually.

    Shooting up isn't a bad idea. If you have a chance, a sitting duck, so to speak, shoot it every which way. Remember I shot Olde Weary Bill from the curb, sky behind him. Folks seemed to like it. I, myself, I was comfortable on the curb.

    ginger

    (my downloads are so slow, a song takes longer to download than to play and sing..................thursday?)

    Thanks for the encouragement Ginger thumb.gif

    Shay.
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