Opinions please

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

J

JSD

Active member
Member's gallery
Black capped chickadee
_JSD1706.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Member's gallery
Nice image. I think it works really well with the bright, but not perfectly white, background. I could imagine a lot of uses for that image in the wide short format (16x9?). For print use I might position the bird lower in frame and might still keep it wide or might try something more conventional like 3x2 or 5x4 aspect ratio but it really depends on where that print would hang and how you would or wouldn't frame it. For instance I might try an alternative crop in any ratio where that slightly dark line in the background originates from the lower left corner and acts as a leading line towards the Chickadee.

Really cool, ethereal capture and the ideas above are just other ways you present it but really it works great just as it is.
 
Member's gallery
Thanks DR, yes I played with many crops and ended with this one. It’s printed 17 x 36, framed in a simple black metal frame with a nice wide mat, and on my wall.
 
Member's gallery
A lovely image, look like taken low level with a long lens rendering the FG OOF. Here it works for me. Ambience and mood and impact, not forgetting focus! All there. I would just pop the birdie's colour a bit - the beige tummy and downtone the white cheeks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JSD
Member's gallery
Going to be brutally honest here, since you asked. :) I would have deleted that image. As mentioned, not being able to see the entire bird is a negative for me.

Having said that, if part of it was indeed buried in snow that would make a big difference. But I can't tell if the grey/shaded area is a stick that has been altered, or if it is indeed snow. What is it?

As I look at it, I'm thinking, "stand up." lol Different strokes. No offense intended.
 
Member's gallery
Capturing, no offense taken, and thanks for being honest.

This image is 100% reality. Nothing was added or removed, other than the cropped portion. It meets Brad Hill's criteria for "as shot", which I aspire to. It was taken near minimum focus distance with a 500mm f4G. It was a stormy morning with blowing, drifting snow. The Chickadee was searching for seeds on the ground. The OOF area that obscures the lower portion of the bird is a hump of snow, obviously between me and the bird. The soft grey area to the left of the bird is shaded snow. This all seems obvious to me but of course I was there, having the advantage of seeing it first hand. Of course everyone sees things differently, and I am rather fond of the images where the subject is partially obscured by OOF foregrounds. Seems like a good representation of reality because critters so often lurk in the shadows, behind grass, rocks, etc. peaking out, being safe. I feel this adds valuable gesture and ambience. Photos of the entire critter can, sometimes, look a bit clinical, to me, and I have many of those too.

Again, I appreciate the honest replies, both positive and negative. How sterile and bland things would be with out them all!
 
Member's gallery
JSD said:
Capturing, no offense taken, and thanks for being honest.

This image is 100% reality. Nothing was added or removed, other than the cropped portion. It meets Brad Hill's criteria for "as shot", which I aspire to. It was taken near minimum focus distance with a 500mm f4G. It was a stormy morning with blowing, drifting snow. The Chickadee was searching for seeds on the ground. The OOF area that obscures the lower portion of the bird is a hump of snow, obviously between me and the bird. The soft grey area to the left of the bird is shaded snow. This all seems obvious to me but of course I was there, having the advantage of seeing it first hand. Of course everyone sees things differently, and I am rather fond of the images where the subject is partially obscured by OOF foregrounds. Seems like a good representation of reality because critters so often lurk in the shadows, behind grass, rocks, etc. peaking out, being safe. I feel this adds valuable gesture and ambience. Photos of the entire critter can, sometimes, look a bit clinical, to me, and I have many of those too.

Again, I appreciate the honest replies, both positive and negative. How sterile and bland things would be with out them all!
Click to expand...
Very good sir, I give you props for keeping it "as shot."
 
  • Like
Reactions: JSD
Member's gallery
Callie said:
A lovely image, look like taken low level with a long lens rendering the FG OOF. Here it works for me. Ambience and mood and impact, not forgetting focus! All there. I would just pop the birdie's colour a bit - the beige tummy and downtone the white cheeks.
Click to expand...

Callie, thanks for the comments. I did play with the beige area, adding more or less color, and settled here. It was indeed taken at a low angle, 500mm, near minimum focus, from a blind, suffering quietly with my cold feet!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top