My First Post

[NikonnooB]

I'm hoping this post works. I finally got my stuff up on SmugMug, and I'd love to get some critique on this image.

Thanks!

Adding exif:
Basic
Date Modified 2008-02-24 13:48:47
Date Taken 2007-11-01 12:49:14
Date Digitized 2007-11-01 12:49:13
Camera NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D40
Exposure Time 0.0002s (1/4000)
Aperture f/5.6
ISO 200
Focal Length 110mm (165mm 35mm)
Photo Dimensions 4096 x 2723
File Name _DSC3000.jpg
File Size 1.72 MB
Detailed
Flash flash did not fire
Exposure Program aperture priority
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Exposure Mode auto
Light Source unknown
White Balance auto
Digital Zoom Ratio 1/1
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Sharpness 0
Subject Distance Range 0
Sensing Method one-chip color sensor
Color Space sRGB

[Nicole]

Well, if you'd like critique, this should probably be moved to the critique section So, if you'd like it moved, add your image's exif and let me know and I'll move it over

[Frk]

I won't hazard a critique, as I'm a novice here. But it looks beautifull taking of like that, or is it just catching a fish?

[goshort]

dear friend, wonderfully captured, what a beautiful start of an unknown flight. the beauty of your pic is at the foot and the splashing water. only my advice wud be to crop 1/2" from right because the lovely bird comes almost in centre, which also compositionally demands because we have to give more space towards destination rather than at back which space is almost of no work. thanks.

[NikonnooB]

Thank you, guys!

As for whether this guy was taking off, or fishing - this was a take-off, and I was just so happy to have not missed it (like I usually do!)

And, goshort - thank you - I was thinking about that, as I'd've loved to have captured it with the "rule of thirds", but the birds just won't listen! For some reason, I didn't even think of cropping. I'll be doing that.

Now, Nicole - YES, you're absolutely right, and I apologize for not thinking of the critique section. Totally should have done that, and I'm sorry I didn't.

I read your post in response to the thread on how to get the exif data in there, and I'm going to go in there to ask a related question. I really want to know how to do this, and I would definitely like this moved to the critique forum. I need the exif in critique forums?

Thanks!

[Nicole]

Moved it over to animal critique I'll check the other thread too, but it's highly recommended to put in the exif if you can in the Critique section

[RussHeath]

Overall, a great shot. I particularly like the contrast in the black feathers, the water, and the excellent timing you have. It's hard to get that telltale water splash behind the bird's feet that really gives this a sense of action. I also like the vignette, was it intentional?

I think you may have a small room for improvement in the exposure of the white feathers. It's a tough balance, because you have such extremes in this shot, but given that white is the dominant color of the subject, I would probably have exposed about a half stop less even if that meant dropping some of the detail in the water.

Great shot, and thanks for sharing.

[NikonnooB]

Thank you Russ. Yeah - that contrast with the feathers was a real killer. I was just so darned happy to get the splash!

I can totally see your point about stopping it down, and, in fact, the original capture was much darker - I increased the exposure in Photoshop RAW, because I'd actually lost detail in the wings, and underneath. I really tried not to overexpose the white, but this was a hard one. Now, maybe you can tell me... if I'd stopped it down further, would not the splash have blurred more? I'm still really trying to learn here, and for some reason, that whole higher fstop number, smaller the opening thing really messes with me, sometimes! This one also probably had a polarizer on it, also, which makes my brain a little more muddled (the water tended to be pretty shiny that day). I'm not good at recording details about my shots, so I'm not totally certain I had it on.

And, for the vignette - unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the shot), my lens seems to add vignette to many of my shots at more open apertures, at certain focal distances. I'm not certain how to avoid it - but I believe it's exacerbated by the circular polarizer, as well. In this image, I liked it, so I didn't try to correct it in post processing.

This input is great - I'm SO GLAD I can finally post stuff!

Thanks!

[gb_eh]

I think you have done rather well here... There is nothing harder than an exposure on a black and white bird. You tend to blow the whites to capture details in the dark areas or visa versa... you have done really well here to balance it. The only problem areas i see are the vignette (personal choice here), and the head seems to be a little soft. But for a black and white bird in action you have done really good here.. nice work.

[windrider86]

Dont relly know quite what to critique because other than the head is a little soft (which is something that really isnt a huge deal with this picture) its a great catch. if I were you, I'd be proud of this one