Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Glenn Bartley on October 16, 2012, 11:31:56 am

Title: Virginia Rail
Post by: Glenn Bartley on October 16, 2012, 11:31:56 am
It was nice to get this skulker out in the open for a few frames... What do you think? Do you like this wider view?

Glenn

(http://imageshack.us/a/img818/4913/virginiarail21.jpg)

Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 400
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS USM
Title: Re: Virginia Rail
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on October 16, 2012, 01:14:32 pm
It's presumptuous of me to try to criticize one of your bird photos, but in this one I would be tempted to crop out about half of the out-of-focus greenery at the bottom, and then perhaps a bit off the left so the rectangle isn't too extreme.

But it is magnificent as usual.
Title: Re: Virginia Rail
Post by: Colorado David on October 16, 2012, 04:19:36 pm
I like it the way it is and would have likely framed it that way myself under the same conditions.  I am neutral on the foreground, but the positioning of the bird in the frame is just right.  The way I read it is the bird just took a step and the framing allows some looking and action room in front.
Title: Re: Virginia Rail
Post by: Tony Jay on October 16, 2012, 05:59:35 pm
Great image, as usual Glenn.
It is possible that Eric's suggestion may work nonetheless the current composition is excellent.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Virginia Rail
Post by: Praki on October 17, 2012, 12:45:50 am
Hi Glenn:
I am a huge fan of your images. I find the grass stalks on the left and the three near the tail a little distracting and pull my attention away from the main subject. Maybe slightly darkening the background (or slightly lightening the main subject) would emphasize and project the bird a bit.
Thanks,
Praki.
Title: Re: Virginia Rail
Post by: james-greenland on October 20, 2012, 07:06:16 am
It's presumptuous of me to try to criticize one of your bird photos, but in this one I would be tempted to crop out about half of the out-of-focus greenery at the bottom, and then perhaps a bit off the left so the rectangle isn't too extreme.

But it is magnificent as usual.


I agree: whilst its good to have some of the OOF foreground, there is too much for me: Its just dead-space, where as if there were more at the top (only slightly mind you) then there would be more textural interest :)

Title: Re: Virginia Rail
Post by: Seoonmie on October 20, 2012, 12:27:49 pm
Hi Glen, although the issue of OOF foreground has been mentioned in all the previous posts, I'll go on about the same thing. I really like to see the surroundings in nature shots. I know a lot of people prefer clean, "school book" type of pictures, but for me the type of composition you chose really works well. I almost felt as if hiding in the reeds, that's just how close to the bird you take us. A great picture, in other words.