Experiment in Minimalism

[RainPacket]

This was an experiment, taken on the way back from errands the other day. (ISO 200, f/8, 1/400 second, 300mm lens, for those who are curious. Only post is a bit of cropping; no levels or anything.)

It was an attempt to capture a fairly minimalist shot; an idea I'd had for a while of 'bird in flight in silhouette, with tree outline.' I saw a chance to get it, since I had the camera out and a bird flew nearby! It didn't come out quite as I had envisioned -- the bare branches of the tree in front were way less focused than I'd intended, for one -- and I'm not quite certain what I think of it yet...

[shellypain]

Rachel-
I think it's striking. If the tree was not present it would be unremarkable. The use of the tree as a sort of ephemeral anchor works well.
Good shot.
Michele

[alissasanderson]

It's really nice. I'm impressed by the sharpness of the bird. I can't make up my mind about the tree branches, though. The bird is so crisply outlined and they're so blurry--I think it would be better if they were a little sharper or not there at all.

But overall, I like it.

[RainPacket]

I think the tree branches need to be there to balance it out... I just wish I'd been able to get them into a slightly sharper focus. I wouldn't want them as sharp as the bird; I think they need to still be somewhat soft.

I just wish they weren't quite THIS soft, I think...

[photonoob]

I dunno, I like it as is, with just the hint of blur on the wingtips and the out of focus trees. It directs my attention sharply to the bird, the trees give a point of reference and them being blurred gives it a real high-speed, 'caught on the fly' feel, making it more dynamic.

[jiminyClickit]

RainPacket,

Senior Member RainPacket,

XLNT MNMLSM

Would it be sacrilegious to post a branch you like on the left?

[RainPacket]

Mm... I don't object to Photoshopped images on any moral grounds or anything, but I consider it a challenge to myself to do little more than crop and tweak the levels. So I probably wouldn't do that, no.

(Plus, I don't HAVE Photoshop, so...)

[hsroxas]

I like the effect created by the blurry branches. To me, it adds drama to the composition. In fact, if you have not expressed your own reservations on how it came out, I would have thought that it was part of the minimalist approach you were doing. Anyway. I like the image the way it is.

[RainPacket]

Originally Posted by hsroxas

I like the effect created by the blurry branches. To me, it adds drama to the composition. In fact, if you have not expressed your own reservations on how it came out, I would have thought that it was part of the minimalist approach you were doing. Anyway. I like the image the way it is.

Oh, I wanted the branches blurry. I just didn't want them quite THAT blurry... it was a little more extreme than I intended.

However, I admit it's been growing on me.