It's not harryb, but it's a start.

johnojohno Registered Users Posts: 617 Major grins
edited February 25, 2005 in Wildlife
Well, these are some friends I met today. What do you think?

red2-small.jpg

duck1-small.jpg

duck2-small.jpg

hope you enjoy. Harry, I'm trying. I have to compete with Ginger also.

peace.
johno~
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
~Mother Teresa


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Comments

  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited February 23, 2005
    very nice thumb.gif

    crop out the bouys and the partial ducky on the last one, it's a real keeper!
    Andy

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 23, 2005
    johno wrote:
    Well, these are some friends I met today. What do you think?


    hope you enjoy. Harry, I'm trying. I have to compete with Ginger also.

    peace.
    johno~
    Hey Johno,
    Boy you had me confused I started to respond to 4 pics now I see 3. ne_nau.gif
    Anyhow they are real nice shots.

    On the new #1 I like the colors on the water and the reflection. It was a tough lightimg situation because yu had what seems to be a reflection off the front of the duck and the shadow on its back. You have good feather detail and I love the water action.

    The eye is a bit dark though on the duck. Eyes are very important on a bird shot. W/O the eye showing clearly the shot loses something. One trick I use is to use the lasso tool in PS and select the bird's eye (I usually blow it up to 200-300%). I then use levels to lighten the eye so it shows up clearer.

    #2 is a very cool shot. You froze the moment nicely with just a little bit of blur to give the feeling of movement. Andy's suggestion to crop out the floats and to clone out the partial duck on the right is on the mark.

    #3 is my favorite. The composition is excellent, the lighting fine and you have some really nice colors, water action and reflections in the shot. The eye is a but dark here and I would try to bring it out a tad.

    Nice work.
    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!"
  • BridgeCityBridgeCity Registered Users Posts: 338 Major grins
    edited February 23, 2005
    Wow! I really like the first one... It's almost like the bird is spitting the water back out... nice capture!
    :dunno www.BridgeCityStudios.com:dunno
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited February 23, 2005
    BridgeCity wrote:
    Wow! I really like the first one... It's almost like the bird is spitting the water back out... nice capture!
    15524779-Ti.gif

    Even the tone on the water matches the feathers. That's a keeper! thumb.gif
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2005
    Really good, Johno!

    I was confused, too re how many shots. Andy said to crop out the partial bird on the last one, and I thought, but that is a reflection. I would clone it, not crop it, or you might take more than you want. And the buoys should go.

    Harryb, you never told me that trick about the bird's eyes. I could have saved a fortune on new lenses just be lassoing the bird and doing the eyes?

    Thanks, I will be using that info.

    Love those shots, Johno.

    ginger
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • johnojohno Registered Users Posts: 617 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2005
    Sorry guys, there were 4 pics. I took one out. I looked at it again and dropped it out. I was trying to post something before I had to leave for work and I just wasn't happy with the first shot... I post it as the missing duck.

    thanks everyone.

    Harry, I am having a blast. Now if I can find those eagles everyone is telling me about I'll be happy.

    Peace.
    johno~
    If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
    ~Mother Teresa


    Canon 1D Mark II / Canon 50D / Canon 30D / Canon G9
    Canon 50mm 1.4
    Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS / Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L



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  • johnojohno Registered Users Posts: 617 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2005
    Ok Andy, how's this?
    duckwing2-small.jpg

    peace.
    johno~
    If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
    ~Mother Teresa


    Canon 1D Mark II / Canon 50D / Canon 30D / Canon G9
    Canon 50mm 1.4
    Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS / Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L



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  • AngeloAngelo Super Moderators Posts: 8,937 moderator
    edited February 24, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Hey Johno,
    Boy you had me confused I started to respond to 4 pics now I see 3. ne_nau.gif
    Anyhow they are real nice shots.

    On the new #1 I like the colors on the water and the reflection. It was a tough lightimg situation because yu had what seems to be a reflection off the front of the duck and the shadow on its back. You have good feather detail and I love the water action.

    The eye is a bit dark though on the duck. Eyes are very important on a bird shot. W/O the eye showing clearly the shot loses something. One trick I use is to use the lasso tool in PS and select the bird's eye (I usually blow it up to 200-300%). I then use levels to lighten the eye so it shows up clearer.

    #2 is a very cool shot. You froze the moment nicely with just a little bit of blur to give the feeling of movement. Andy's suggestion to crop out the floats and to clone out the partial duck on the right is on the mark.

    #3 is my favorite. The composition is excellent, the lighting fine and you have some really nice colors, water action and reflections in the shot. The eye is a but dark here and I would try to bring it out a tad.

    Nice work.
    What he said ^ :D
    Very nice worko johno!
    www.angelo.smugmug.com

    Moderator of: Location, Location, Location , Mind Your Own Business & Other Cool Shots
  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2005
    ginger_55 wrote:
    Harryb, you never told me that trick about the bird's eyes. I could have saved a fortune on new lenses just be lassoing the bird and doing the eyes?
    Eyes are important in most animal shots, including humans. If you can't see clearly defined eyes, the image loses power. Eyes are windows into the soul.
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2005
    fish wrote:
    Eyes are important in most animal shots, including humans. If you can't see clearly defined eyes, the image loses power. Eyes are windows into the soul.
    I agree, and keep rediscovering it. The face and in particular the eyes, are paramount. I shot dogs yesterday, boxing on Friday - same story for both. No eyes, no shot. Seems to me the only time to exclude eyes is when you're going for an effect that is enhanced by their absence.

    I really like the second and third shots, johno. Cropping the buoys from the second one helps, cropping to remove the partial birds hurts, IMHO. The first one's great, but hopelessly ruined by the toasted highlights. Bummer, been there done that. That high contrast light will kill you. :cry
    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
  • KhaosKhaos Registered Users Posts: 2,435 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2005
    The first one is cool. The duck is so smooth, that it almost looks like a robot. The new Duckinator 2000.
  • johnojohno Registered Users Posts: 617 Major grins
    edited February 24, 2005
    Khaos wrote:
    The first one is cool. The duck is so smooth, that it almost looks like a robot. The new Duckinator 2000.

    Yeah, I had to give them crackers so they would like me... I caught this one with his mouth full... Excuse me, how's your meal?

    I don't know, I think this duck is happy... Doesn't it look like a smile?

    peace.
    johno~
    If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
    ~Mother Teresa


    Canon 1D Mark II / Canon 50D / Canon 30D / Canon G9
    Canon 50mm 1.4
    Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS / Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L



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  • fishfish Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2005
    johno wrote:
    Yeah, I had to give them crackers so they would like me... I caught this one with his mouth full... Excuse me, how's your meal?
    Funny, I looked at that image several times and never noticed the cracker until after you posted that. Great idea!
    "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
    "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."-Hunter S.Thompson
  • KhaosKhaos Registered Users Posts: 2,435 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2005
    johno wrote:
    Yeah, I had to give them crackers so they would like me... I caught this one with his mouth full... Excuse me, how's your meal?

    I don't know, I think this duck is happy... Doesn't it look like a smile?

    peace.
    johno~
    I already tried to sneak a bird into the emotions contest. :D
  • johnojohno Registered Users Posts: 617 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2005
    Khaos wrote:
    I already tried to sneak a bird into the emotions contest. :D

    That's funny... Thanks for making me laugh. rolleyes1.gif I saw that shot. wonderful. frame it and put it on the wall... it is a winner.

    peace.
    johno~
    If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
    ~Mother Teresa


    Canon 1D Mark II / Canon 50D / Canon 30D / Canon G9
    Canon 50mm 1.4
    Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS / Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L



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