Birds over Laguna

[eNo]

More details on my Flickr entry...

[roamingbuff]

Beautiful! I wonder if the color version would be just as good. If not, what makes it better as B/W?

[Steve S]

Hi eNo, nice shot. I like the hard shadows of the birds, but they tell me there is alot of hard light. With so much light , the hill and water in the background look too dark to me.

Steve

[eNo]

Steve (and roamingbuff): yes, this is hard light indeed, taken at around 10:30am. I don't shy away from shooting during non-golden hours, as often this is more representative of the types of beach scenes I shoot (i.e., that's when people are out there enjoying these places, so why not capture them that way?). Here, the color version definitely takes a big hit with the tough light: the sky washes away, the birds don't separate as neatly against it, and the water glares a bit. By choosing the right channel mix for the B&W conversion, the birds are brought forth, the sky becomes an acceptable range of grays, and yes, the background becomes "too dark." The latter was a conscious compromise. I actually want the viewer to dwell on the birds and the ocean, not on the hillside, so it's an okay compromise for what I wanted out of the image. One thing I've learned with B&W, not everything needs to be seen, and dark spots actually cause the viewer to return to what you want them to see (same concept as in chiaroscuro).

All in all, though, I'm still not entirely sure about this image. It may yet find itself in the bit bucket.

[Steve S]

Steve (and roamingbuff): yes, this is hard light indeed, taken at around 10:30am. I don't shy away from shooting during non-golden hours, as often this is more representative of the types of beach scenes I shoot (i.e., that's when people are out there enjoying these places, so why not capture them that way?). Here, the color version definitely takes a big hit with the tough light: the sky washes away, the birds don't separate as neatly against it, and the water glares a bit. By choosing the right channel mix for the B&W conversion, the birds are brought forth, the sky becomes an acceptable range of grays, and yes, the background becomes "too dark." The latter was a conscious compromise. I actually want the viewer to dwell on the birds and the ocean, not on the hillside, so it's an okay compromise for what I wanted out of the image. One thing I've learned with B&W, not everything needs to be seen, and dark spots actually cause the viewer to return to what you want them to see (same concept as in chiaroscuro).

All in all, though, I'm still not entirely sure about this image. It may yet find itself in the bit bucket.

I don't think it's bin bucket, but to me the subject is the flock of birds. I want to be drawn to the birds first and then view the rest of the scene. As it stands, i look at the ocean and then to the dark hill and then the birds.(the ocean leads me in, hill is so dark i bounce off and look at the birds.). Sorry for the harsh critique , but thats the way i see it.

[CNelson]

I like it eNo. It makes me take a second look. Very contrasty but it makes the birds pop. The white foam distracts me from the birds so you might consider toning it down just a little.

Chuck