Nightski

Thoughts?
800 ISO
F/10
1/2000

(Download)

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Great bit of action and pose.
Would help to have a bit more room on the left, and to recover the blown highlights as was done on the last one!
they ARE magnificent creatures!

Dave

Nightski

I might have more room on the left, and I will work on that exposure problem. I have to admit I wasn't ready when this happened and I adjusted as quickly as I could, but not enough

Nightski

and I have no excuse .. I have a white cat to test exposure on! LOL

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

You really captured a nice moment. While the other swan photo was great technically esp after Rob's tweak, this one wins the composition prize hands down in my opinion.

Nightski

Thank you, Judy.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

This is a great shot. And while it might not be technically perfect, the image is definitely a one-of-a-kind! Not all photos have to be perfect. They do need to express something of interest. You certainly did that!

Nightski

Thank you, AzPicLady

10MPlayer Loc: California

I'm going to differ from the crowd. I don't find the picture particularly appealing because of the angle from which it was shot. It's unusual. I'll give it that. But I want to see the bird's wings spread wide. From this angle all that can be seen is the bird's torso and neck/head.

Nightski

I've got one like that too .. post it later.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

You are asking for my thoughts so I will comply with that request even though my thoughts might differ from what others have said. I know that getting birds in motion is very difficult and they often do funny or odd things, which may not create the best photograph. In this image, I do not find the movement of the wings to be attractive; what would have been attractive is the wings spread wider or wide open. It also appears that the exposure is off as there are blown out highlights, quickly checking the exposure using the blinkies or histogram might have helped to avoid the over exposure. You are shooting at a speed that should be fast enough to catch most action sharply but that will always depend on how fast the bird is moving. The placement of the image is a bit awkward as the bird has "no where to go" within the frame. Sometimes we are happy we got a specific shot since it was difficult to do, but that does not mean the shot is a keeper, or maybe only a keeper for us to look at. I hate throwing shots away where I got the action but it's not quite sharp but I do that every time, it helps me to grow as a photographer and keeps me striving to do better.

Nightski

A very good point. Thank you, and please keep sharing your thoughts. Very helpful. While this is a shot that I like because of the wings, there was something preventing me from sharing it at 500px. I try to share my best ones there. I think you nailed the reason why this image didn't quite make the cut. I am posting a link to the one I chose from the bunch for 500px.

http://500px.com/photo/201372747/the-dance-by-sandra-nightski?ctx_page=1&from=user&user_id=5883322

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

A much better shot! Very nicely done. Very difficult, as I know so well, to get birds in motion or in flight. Keep working at it, as I am, and we'll get very good at it at some point!