What’s Your Preference?

steeb · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2010, 07:21 PM

Is it just me or is the background annoying - distracting? I personally like the composition and i think the beads of water on the swans head add interest.
I took another shot of the swan feeding and think that the colours work better. (see link to flickr)
Female swan feeding | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I would like some feedback on what could have be done better (is the image cropped too tight?). All comments good and bad would be appreciated. thanks

Camera Canon EOS 450D
Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 250 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

marclex · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 04:10 AM

For me personally, the background is a little distracting. Maybe a different crop of the original or if it were zoomed out slightly.

hilhi2005 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 04:31 AM

What sticks out to me is the strange crop more than the background, other than that, I like the idea of the shot.

edbayani · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 06:29 AM

yes it is distracting. i had to look longer before recognizing the head of the duck because of the cropped bill and close crop of the left side. wish i could see the eye of the duck.

Laurenbiz · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2010, 04:27 PM

Why is the bird's beak cut off, and nearly its eye cut off on the other side with this crop?

steeb · #6 (**permalink**) 12-04-2010, 10:20 PM

Just trying to do something a little different from the norm, hence the close crop.

Tito87 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-05-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeb

Just trying to do something a little different from the norm, hence the close crop.

I don't disagree with you: I think that it is good to do something different, but let's not forget that our job is to produce work that is pleasing to the eye. The background is extremely distracting; perhaps, if you go back to the original shot and crop where you can see more of the bird it might help a little.

steeb · #8 (**permalink**) 12-05-2010, 06:21 PM

I have just spent a little time in photoshop and made a change to the background but i'm keeping the close crop... i think the background is less distracting now.

the magic of photoshop!

autofocus · #9 (**permalink**) 12-05-2010, 06:49 PM

I personally don't like the clipped off beak, and I'd like to see a little more life in it's eye that just seems to disappear into the black markings

Tito87 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-05-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeb

I have just spent a little time in photoshop and made a change to the background but i'm keeping the close crop... i think the background is less distracting now.

the magic of photoshop!

Well, I think it looks a lot better, but I still would like to see a little more of the bird.