rwilso15
Active member
First time posting for critique, but I want to learn from the pros, so have at it
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Good to the last drop!
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Gary Dietz
Active member
I would like to see the whole bird, otherwise its a nice crisp photo
Rick Kibbey
Well-known member
Excellent shot. You got the moment. Nice bokeh with a clean sharp eye. I agree, the whole bird would make a better shot.
rwilso15
Active member
Interesting that you both want to see the back end of the bird when I deliberately excluded it to focus attention on both heads and the drop. I guess that is why its art and not science.
JSD
Active member
I like the crop, I think it accentuates the great action and detail as you say. Perhaps a bit of vignette such as with the highly adjustable radial tool in LR, would de-emphasize the chopped off look of the birds back end. It might give the lovely green background some depth as well. A little trial and error with various positions and degrees of darkening may work. Or not,
rwilso15
Active member
Thanks, I am aligned with your thinking!
If you don't want to show the entire bird (which I understand) try cropping so just the neck, part of breast and the head / fish are showing. Basically draw a vertical line just to the right of it's feet (so the feet are not sticking in the image) up and try that for the crop. Not sure but worth a try to see. I think the other guys are reacting to just the 'bird butt' being cut off. Some may think it looks like a mistake where a more dramatic crop would remove all doubt. Just a thought. I do like the photo, great timing and capture. well done
rwilso15
Active member
Feels too cramped for me, but thanks for taking the time to help[! Much appreciated.
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You're welcome. I see what you mean now that I'm looking at it. I was just holding a piece of paper up to block off part of the image. I had the left edge a little farther left but I think you're right.
Jeff
JSD
Active member
I think the tree trunk is an important part of the balance of the composition, and it contributes to the story- original still the best! It’s a beautiful photo.
rwilso15
Active member
Harry.G
Well-known member
Fantastic image , the first one looks good to me however I`d like to get a look at the whole bird "just to see" what "if any" difference it might make to the overall image ,
One the first image I`m drawn first to the birds eye , then along the fish to the water droplet - the nice clean background helps a lot as does the log that the bird is standing on - The close up crop of just the birds head with the fish is a bit Harsh and not an improvement at all ...
Harry.G
One the first image I`m drawn first to the birds eye , then along the fish to the water droplet - the nice clean background helps a lot as does the log that the bird is standing on - The close up crop of just the birds head with the fish is a bit Harsh and not an improvement at all ...
Harry.G
rwilso15
Active member
Because of popular demand, here is the full bird. Still doesn't do it for me Sorry!
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Rick Kibbey
Well-known member
Well after seeing all three photos, I have to reevaluate to the close in crop of the bird head and fish. That is the one I like the best.
rwilso15
Active member
Thanks for your input. It means a lot to me that you took time to review the image.
Harry.G
Well-known member
I’ve looked at all three now and tend to agree with you that the first cropped image is the way to go , definitely still not keen on the close crop and not favouring the whole bird either 
..
Whichever you go for it’s a great image regardless..
Harry.G
.. Whichever you go for it’s a great image regardless..
Harry.G
Bardot
Well-known member
For me I would go for a classic crop with the Birds eye on the Intersection of thirds. It's a golden rule for a reason. I would also sharpen the fish a little as you are drawing attention to the drop with the title. Maybe try to find a bit more detail in the birds tail ? Hope this is allowed but I would crop like this.
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Looks like you will get a great variety of opinions on this one. I would like the full bird, and I'd crop a little bit off the top and the right side. There's no right answer, of course. 
REgardless of how you decide to crop it, this is a really nice shot. Congratulations!
REgardless of how you decide to crop it, this is a really nice shot. Congratulations!
The image with the whole bird is unbalanced - the subject is in the middle of the frame, which doesn't do it for me. I'd prefer to see the entire composition framed around "power points" (i.e. rule of thirds), but this is just one man's opinion. Otherwise, very nice image!
rwilso15
Active member
Thanks everybody! I got what I wanted out of this posting and realized what I very much suspected. That there is no right answer . We all have our biases and preferences. I'll stick with my original post and let the chips fall where they may.
Thanks
Rob.
Thanks
Rob.
It's a great shot just the way you posted it first.
I prefer the original, which means nothing but that it's your shot and you should crop it to your liking when it comes down to the subjective
Yellowboard
Well-known member
Try a 16 x 9 crop and see if that tickles your fancy...
I opted for a 16x9 crop and selectively reduced the exposure on the fish and increased saturation of fish. Blacks were blocked up....perhaps some recovery is possible in the raw image. Just another version.....
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rwilso15
Active member
Thank you!