Upon reflection

[Dave Humphries]

Seems to be a lot of birdie pics around lately, I can't think why

It's nothing special, but the again ...
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/dhumph...53193901789090

Having played around with Iwan's birds on a river in Mom and daughter earlier, I thought I'd better do one of my own.

Feedback welcome, in particular, composition; I find it difficult to put this sort of shot "on the third's" without lots of plain water, is this an acceptable compromise?

Thanks,

[crisscross]

nice clear bird and good complementary colours between beak and water

When there is a very strong subject, there is a lot to be said for putting it fairly central; in this case a little higher up as bird and reflection form a whole? But it also seems right to give moving creatures some space to be appear to be moving into as you have here.

Looking at my birdies, a lot of them end up in a 5x4 or square frame, on the grounds used by judges who say 'there is no extra information' in plainish areas of background

[Dave Humphries]

Thanks Chris,

I like to think it's that nice, rich (and natural) blue colour in part due to the polariser I had attached and set for the sky - it obviously isn't set to 'kill' the reflection!

As it happens, I have this shot as my desktop wallpaper at the moment and you're right, I now realise it could do with being a little higher in the frame ideally.

Regards,

[William W]

I too think the square format is underutilized.

I would crop your image in a square, as below. It gives a strong reflection and enough space for the bird to move.

The other examples, clockwise show:

. using the square and allowing DoF to control the focus of the viewer's eye, but also I kept the square format to drop the main subject into the lower LH third - unlike your image, mine was high key (shot at sunrise) and I did not wish to increase the saturation nor the contrast, but rather let the light and the shallow DoF I selected do their job.

. this was completely visioned and composed as a square shot, in camera.

. a re-crop from a 7x5 - just experimentation - thinking outside the traditional rectangular formats.

WW

[Colin Southern]

As it happens, I have this shot as my desktop wallpaper at the moment and you're right, I now realise it could do with being a little higher in the frame ideally.

As a little "aside", I've found that with reflection type shots you can often break the "rule of thirds" and get away with it.

[crisscross]

I too think the square format is underutilized.

I would crop your image in a square, as below. It gives a strong reflection and enough space for the bird to move.

The other examples, clockwise show:

. using the square and allowing DoF to control the focus of the viewer's eye, but also I kept the square format to drop the main subject into the lower LH third - unlike your image, mine was high key (shot at sunrise) and I did not wish to increase the saturation nor the contrast, but rather let the light and the shallow DoF I selected do their job.

. this was completely visioned and composed as a square shot, in camera.

. a re-crop from a 7x5 - just experimentation - thinking outside the traditional rectangular formats.

WW

I think you have cropped both Dave's original and your Heron (heronish bird) overtight, a place for 8x10 format (vertical on the heron); your other 2, yes fine

[Cameo]

If I can give my opinion then I agree that the crop is a little overtight, but the square works.

Ideally, I would also switch the photo so that the bird is facing right - then it would look like the bird is going forwards instead of backwards.

I like the colour contrast of white and blue - very nice.

Hard to capture with animals and especially birds, (but can be added with PS) - catch light in the eye.