Every now and then, I'll post one of my wildlife shots since I recently put a bunch online. All rights reserved.
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~CanDo
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~CanDo
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Brown Pelican Photo
- Thread starter CanDo
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2007
- Messages
- 2,798
Were's the rest of him? J/k. Nice photo.
Haha, I knew someone would have to ask that. I do have a full body shot somewhere, but it isn't uploaded.
A while later....
Here's some of the rest of him:
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Ooh! I love shooting pelicanus occidentalis.
I don't want to steal your thunder. Let me know if (A) you'd like any substantial criticism [warning: I've been told that I tend to be a "tough-love" style critic]; (B) you'd like us to join in with our own brown pelican photos.
I don't want to steal your thunder. Let me know if (A) you'd like any substantial criticism [warning: I've been told that I tend to be a "tough-love" style critic]; (B) you'd like us to join in with our own brown pelican photos.
How about both A&B??
I am a beginner shooting with what many experts have termed a "piece of crap", so it would be very difficult to insult me
My institution just picked up Adobe CS3, and I played around with it for about an hour the other day.... Holy %$*#! If I can't get a great shot between that and my new camera, we have a very serious problem.
Edit: Just realized that the above makes it look like I'm making some sort of an excuse yet that's not my intention. I was pushing what I had available to the limit in a couple of ways (especially for the in-water shot). All criticism is very welcomed as I'd like to improve.
I am a beginner shooting with what many experts have termed a "piece of crap", so it would be very difficult to insult me
My institution just picked up Adobe CS3, and I played around with it for about an hour the other day.... Holy %$*#! If I can't get a great shot between that and my new camera, we have a very serious problem.
Edit: Just realized that the above makes it look like I'm making some sort of an excuse yet that's not my intention. I was pushing what I had available to the limit in a couple of ways (especially for the in-water shot). All criticism is very welcomed as I'd like to improve.
CanDo,
A few things:
First, assuming the same frame shape, I think this photo would have been a little more to my liking if it had been framed vertically, showing less water on the sides and a bit more throat and bill.
Second, a slightly more mature individual, a little earlier in the season, would've likely been more colorful, with a spectacular red throat, and a somewhat yellower head.
Third, I think this would have been improved if you had taken this picture from perhaps a foot lower (perhaps kneeling), so that there would be a uniform blue sky behind it, instead of rippled, blurred ocean water, with waves and objects (birds?).
Fourth, this individual is distressed by your close approach. The way to avoid that is to not approach them. Instead, go where the pelican wants to go, and let the pelican come closer to you.
Anyway, it's actually better than average, so keep that in mind as you read my points.
__________________________________
Here's one of mine:
A few things:
First, assuming the same frame shape, I think this photo would have been a little more to my liking if it had been framed vertically, showing less water on the sides and a bit more throat and bill.
Second, a slightly more mature individual, a little earlier in the season, would've likely been more colorful, with a spectacular red throat, and a somewhat yellower head.
Third, I think this would have been improved if you had taken this picture from perhaps a foot lower (perhaps kneeling), so that there would be a uniform blue sky behind it, instead of rippled, blurred ocean water, with waves and objects (birds?).
Fourth, this individual is distressed by your close approach. The way to avoid that is to not approach them. Instead, go where the pelican wants to go, and let the pelican come closer to you.
Anyway, it's actually better than average, so keep that in mind as you read my points.
__________________________________
Here's one of mine:
Thanks for the feedback!
I should point out that I cheated a bit in that this fellow wasn't 100% wild. He was on a pier getting fat by means of the local shark fisherman. I was introduced to him when I heard a shriek, turned around, and saw that he had just plucked a fish from a little kid's hand! (Apparently, their bills are quite sharp, so it's a good thing he didn't cut her). I get the feeling that his stress was more due to the big eye (52mm lens) scrutinizing him than our proximity.
I actually do have some of the vertically framed shots you mentioned, but there was just something about this one that made it stand out. Next trip....
The photo you posted is the one I spent quite a bit of time trying to get. Some of my criteria were actually "wingtips from corner to corner, nice sky background, even light". With the speed of the focus and lack of telephoto however, it just was not happening. Throw in the need for everything to align perfectly, and lighting to be right, and there just wasn't a chance. How long or how many tries did it take to capture that one if you don't mind me asking? I must've gone through 200 or so before giving up. For my loon sequence, it's about 700-800 but it payed off that time...
Nice Shot
I should point out that I cheated a bit in that this fellow wasn't 100% wild. He was on a pier getting fat by means of the local shark fisherman. I was introduced to him when I heard a shriek, turned around, and saw that he had just plucked a fish from a little kid's hand! (Apparently, their bills are quite sharp, so it's a good thing he didn't cut her). I get the feeling that his stress was more due to the big eye (52mm lens) scrutinizing him than our proximity.
I actually do have some of the vertically framed shots you mentioned, but there was just something about this one that made it stand out. Next trip....
The photo you posted is the one I spent quite a bit of time trying to get. Some of my criteria were actually "wingtips from corner to corner, nice sky background, even light". With the speed of the focus and lack of telephoto however, it just was not happening. Throw in the need for everything to align perfectly, and lighting to be right, and there just wasn't a chance. How long or how many tries did it take to capture that one if you don't mind me asking? I must've gone through 200 or so before giving up. For my loon sequence, it's about 700-800 but it payed off that time...
Nice Shot
Good timing, especially considering the challenges imposed by the camera you were using. Also, it is good to see that you are interested in showing behaviors and actions, and to see that you are conceiving elements of composition. While it may br true that the picture ultimately fails as a photo, a failure as the result of an ambitious attempt is nothing to be ashamed of.
Good for you.
Good for you.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2007
- Messages
- 610
Not to disagree with more experience than mine, but I think these pics draw one's eye because they aren't the standard shots one sees. We are bombarded by so many images from day to day that it's refreshing to see something new. From an artistic standpoint rather than a technical one, the last photo is great. One expects to see a photo like the pelican in flight, in spite of how good it is technically (it is a great shot, better than I can do, that's for sure.) Seeing a pair of pelicans in a dive like that and catching them so close to the water, one gets a real impression of a dynamic moment frozen in time. But then, like everything artistic, that's just my (amateur) opinion.
Great pics guys, thanks for sharing them!
EDIT: CanDo & Mike, I mentioned these pics to a friend today who would love to see them. Do you mind if I send them ? Credit where credit's due, of course.
Great pics guys, thanks for sharing them!
EDIT: CanDo & Mike, I mentioned these pics to a friend today who would love to see them. Do you mind if I send them ? Credit where credit's due, of course.
Deadeye,
If possible, please just send your friend the links for my photos:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc23/Funditor/Diving.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/2244229627_649a108691_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2244471665_696a58e9a5_o.jpg
If you must, it's OK to attach them as I'm not making any money off of these.
The shot of them diving I really can not get myself to like because it is severely flawed in several major ways. The first photo, however, I will continue to like a lot despite professional opinion. It's a very strange feeling, but I kind of know that it wouldn't work for me if something was changed... you'd have to be in the moment I guess.
It's very weird. You know those drawings you can look at that show two different things at once (like from an old lady to a young woman, where the young one's chin is the old one's nose)? The top shot is kind of like that in that I can see it as a pretty poor shot that's missing most of the pelican, but then I can switch and see it as something I like a lot where attention goes straight to the eye.
Stay tuned for some photos of loons
If possible, please just send your friend the links for my photos:
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc23/Funditor/Diving.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/2244229627_649a108691_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2244471665_696a58e9a5_o.jpg
If you must, it's OK to attach them as I'm not making any money off of these.
The shot of them diving I really can not get myself to like because it is severely flawed in several major ways. The first photo, however, I will continue to like a lot despite professional opinion. It's a very strange feeling, but I kind of know that it wouldn't work for me if something was changed... you'd have to be in the moment I guess.
It's very weird. You know those drawings you can look at that show two different things at once (like from an old lady to a young woman, where the young one's chin is the old one's nose)? The top shot is kind of like that in that I can see it as a pretty poor shot that's missing most of the pelican, but then I can switch and see it as something I like a lot where attention goes straight to the eye.
Stay tuned for some photos of loons
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2007
- Messages
- 610
No worries, next time he's over, I'll show him on my 'puter (he's not online)
It's funny because (in a different arena), when I finish a piece all I can see are the flaws. Even though I get compliments on the finished product, it's only because they don't know what I know...It's tough to figure out when what you're looking at will look good later and out of context, at least for me it is.
Looking forward to the loons !
It's funny because (in a different arena), when I finish a piece all I can see are the flaws. Even though I get compliments on the finished product, it's only because they don't know what I know...It's tough to figure out when what you're looking at will look good later and out of context, at least for me it is.
Looking forward to the loons !