Dramatic Phoebe in a Gnarled Loquat Tree: I posted the color version of this one in the gallery earlier today but wanted to work it up in black and white. The birds natural colors as...

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

I posted the color version of this one in the gallery earlier today but wanted to work it up in black and white. The birds natural colors as well as the color and texture of the old dead tree seem to lend itself to a toned black and white rendition. Best viewed in download and double click if you've a mind to.

Phoebe in front of an air plant

(Download)

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Love it fella. A link to the color shot would be good for comparison I reckon. Not a bird guy personally but your use of BW has made this an extremely interesting shot.
Nit picking and again personal but why the watermark that catches the eye and takes away from a great image? Does nothing to stop theft and your among friends so advertising is not needed!
Superb work though.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

jwt wrote:

I posted the color version of this one in the gallery earlier today ...

Patience, good light, and good equipment yields digital dividends
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-348619-1.html

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

Billyspad wrote:

Love it fella. A link to the color shot would be good for comparison I reckon. Not a bird guy personally but your use of BW has made this an extremely interesting shot.
Nit picking and again personal but why the watermark that catches the eye and takes away from a great image? Does nothing to stop theft and your among friends so advertising is not needed!
Superb work though.

Glad you asked Billyspad, I've got a friend that lives not too far from me that spends 90 pct of his day on the internet perusing photos; he's a really good photographer in his own right but suffers from hand shakes that make it difficult to hold his camera. So he captures pictures from all over the place including UHH and sends them to his friends and family. I've seen several of our stuff coming back to me via email..so I started watermarking my stuff. However your point is valid and I just may cut it out as its an extra step in processing that I can really do without. Now getting to the real phase of my reply to you...thanks for taking a look and for the nice comment and good advice..well received my friend.

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

St3v3M wrote:

Patience, good light, and good equipment yields digital dividends
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-348619-1.html

Thanks so much ST, I can see from the verbiage you must have seen the color post. I really appreciate the visit and good words my friend. :-D :-D

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

jwt wrote:

I posted the color version of this one in the gallery earlier today but wanted to work it up in black and white. The birds natural colors as well as the color and texture of the old dead tree seem to lend itself to a toned black and white rendition. Best viewed in download and double click if you've a mind to.

Very well done.for me the birds head needs a bit more detail jwt.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

jwt wrote:

I posted the color version of this one in the gallery earlier today but wanted to work it up in black and white. The birds natural colors as well as the color and texture of the old dead tree seem to lend itself to a toned black and white rendition. Best viewed in download and double click if you've a mind to.

The (Download) is much better, but I'm lost in the image. I see the bird and see where you're going with the concept, but the green and white grasses pull me away from the focal point and leave me wondering where to go next.

It's a good image and I like the lack of color and use of vignetting, but feel as if the twisting branches and blow-out grass control the view losing any interest it may hold. If I may ask, have you considered cropping it in, maybe twenty-five percent or so, bringing the subject more into focus? It's up to you of course, but I hope it helps!

Thank you for sharing! S-

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

Frank2013 wrote:

Very well done.for me the birds head needs a bit more detail jwt.

Thanks Frank and I agree, but didn't seem to be able to bring it out more.
I have to get better at masking and cloning I'm thinking. :-D

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

St3v3M wrote:

The (Download) is much better, but I'm lost in the... (show quote)

Good idea S, I'll have to try that and see where it goes. Thanks for looking.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

jwt wrote:

Good idea S, I'll have to try that and see where it goes. Thanks for looking.

Looking forward to following your progress! S-

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

So interesting to compare the color and the b&w. I didn't notice in the color version the shadow across the bird's head!

There might be just a little bit too much going on (textures and lines) for this to be a successful b&w, in my opinion, Jim. Also not sure that the vignette adds to the image here, though I loved it in the color version.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Linda From Maine wrote:

... Also not sure that the vignette adds to the image here, though I loved it in the color version.

Interesting as now I wonder if removing the vignette would give the image more room taking away from the distracting lighter colors. Neat! S-

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

Linda From Maine wrote:

So interesting to compare the color and the b&w. I didn't notice in the color version the shadow across the bird's head!

There might be just a little bit too much going on (textures and lines) for this to be a successful b&w, in my opinion, Jim. Also not sure that the vignette adds to the image here, though I loved it in the color version.

Thanks Linda, I've still got a long ways to go to produce a really good black and white, but I'm headed in that direction. :-D

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

jwt wrote:

Thanks Linda, I've still got a long ways to go to produce a really good black and white, but I'm headed in that direction. :-D

As long as the journey remains a joy :)

jwt Loc: Texas Hill Country

Linda From Maine wrote:

As long as the journey remains a joy :)

:thumbup: