Bird on the Roof...

santanu · 05-06-2008, 01:27 AM

Taken from my roof ...

J.Scott · 05-06-2008, 03:03 AM

Since this is your very first post I feel you may have put it here accidentally. Few members want their 1st photo ripped apart by critique. Since it is here I will give my opinion. It is not a totally bad picture but could use a bit of improvement.

It would be nicer if the bird were standing a bit more to the side or head on. The detail is there as I can see his molting feathers blowing in the breeze. Try to move in closer to the bird next time, use a tighter crop, or use a longer lens.

I really like the blurred background; great job there! The highlights are blown a bit on the birds rump; watch your exposure next time.

santanu · 05-06-2008, 03:54 AM

Originally posted by J.Scott

Since this is your very first post I feel you may have put it here accidentally.

Not quite.. This is here on purpose.. I am learning photography by self teaching , along with my day job as a software developer... So you guys are the ones who can help me see my mistakes..

Originally posted by J.Scott

It would be nicer if the bird were standing a bit more to the side, or head on. The detail is there as I can see his molting feathers blowing in the breeze. Try to move in closer to the bird next time, use a tighter crop, or use a longer lens.

I really like the blurred background; great job there! The highlights are blown a bit on the birds rump; watch your exposure next time.

I will try to remember that the next time. BTW, any more closer to the bird and I would be off the roof...

Many thanks for the review.

Regards,
Santanu

foxglove · 05-06-2008, 08:56 AM

My first reaction to this shot was fairly negative, more or less "why bother?" But then I looked again, and I rather like it, despite its technical flaws. Birds are difficult to photograph well, especially if you haven't got a big lens. If you can't fill the frame with the bird, then you have to compensate in other ways.

I really like the composition - it's sitting right at the peak, it's looking at you but still showing that flash of red on the rump (what bird is it, btw?), and I particularly like the off-centre composition. At first I thought you'd broken a bunch of "rules" and had it work, but then I realised that the bird's head is pretty much at the intersection of thirds, i.e. 1/3 from the right, 1/3 from the bottom. The large area of oof background becomes almost a compositional element in itself. It bothers me slightly that the bird is in front of a light area, but you got a wonderful catchlight in its eye.

You do have blown highlights and the eye seems not quite sharp, but those things come with practice. As a picture of a bird, it's not entirely successful, but as a pleasing composition overall, it works.

Of course, you must bear in mind that I'm just a keen amateur and might be talking the most incredible nonsense! But I think you're definitely starting out on the right track.

Julie

santanu · 05-06-2008, 09:41 PM

Dear Julie,
Many thanks for the feedback. I am working on my sense of exposure.
However, with the lens that I have (an used, 170-500 mm Sigma APO DG ), it was impossible to get closer to the bird. I could do a crop, thereby centering the bird, however, being not too confident about my bird shooting capabilities (:-)), I decided to go for a better composition rather than the perfect bird picture.
Actually this bird is pretty common in Kolkata. it is a Redvented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer).

Regards,
Santanu

foxglove · 05-07-2008, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by santanu

I could do a crop, thereby centering the bird, however, being not too confident about my bird shooting capabilities (:-)), I decided to go for a better composition rather than the perfect bird picture.

Definitely the right call - if the bird were centered, it would be less interesting. I really like the composition, you made a good decision.

Originally posted by santanu

Actually this bird is pretty common in Kolkata. it is a Redvented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer).

It's well-named! Maybe if it's so common you'll have another chance to photograph it. It looks like your roof is a good perch!

Julie

05-06-2008, 01:27 AM	#1
santanu New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kolkata, India Photos: Gallery Posts: 6	Bird on the Roof... Taken from my roof ...

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05-06-2008, 03:03 AM	#2
J.Scott Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,675	Since this is your very first post I feel you may have put it here accidentally. Few members want their 1st photo ripped apart by critique. Since it is here I will give my opinion. It is not a totally bad picture but could use a bit of improvement. It would be nicer if the bird were standing a bit more to the side or head on. The detail is there as I can see his molting feathers blowing in the breeze. Try to move in closer to the bird next time, use a tighter crop, or use a longer lens. I really like the blurred background; great job there! The highlights are blown a bit on the birds rump; watch your exposure next time.

05-06-2008, 03:54 AM	#3
santanu New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kolkata, India Photos: Gallery Posts: 6 Original Poster	Originally posted by J.Scott Since this is your very first post I feel you may have put it here accidentally. Not quite.. This is here on purpose.. I am learning photography by self teaching , along with my day job as a software developer... So you guys are the ones who can help me see my mistakes.. Originally posted by J.Scott It would be nicer if the bird were standing a bit more to the side, or head on. The detail is there as I can see his molting feathers blowing in the breeze. Try to move in closer to the bird next time, use a tighter crop, or use a longer lens. I really like the blurred background; great job there! The highlights are blown a bit on the birds rump; watch your exposure next time. I will try to remember that the next time. BTW, any more closer to the bird and I would be off the roof... Many thanks for the review. Regards, Santanu

05-06-2008, 08:56 AM	#4
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	My first reaction to this shot was fairly negative, more or less "why bother?" But then I looked again, and I rather like it, despite its technical flaws. Birds are difficult to photograph well, especially if you haven't got a big lens. If you can't fill the frame with the bird, then you have to compensate in other ways. I really like the composition - it's sitting right at the peak, it's looking at you but still showing that flash of red on the rump (what bird is it, btw?), and I particularly like the off-centre composition. At first I thought you'd broken a bunch of "rules" and had it work, but then I realised that the bird's head is pretty much at the intersection of thirds, i.e. 1/3 from the right, 1/3 from the bottom. The large area of oof background becomes almost a compositional element in itself. It bothers me slightly that the bird is in front of a light area, but you got a wonderful catchlight in its eye. You do have blown highlights and the eye seems not quite sharp, but those things come with practice. As a picture of a bird, it's not entirely successful, but as a pleasing composition overall, it works. Of course, you must bear in mind that I'm just a keen amateur and might be talking the most incredible nonsense! But I think you're definitely starting out on the right track. Julie

05-06-2008, 09:41 PM	#5
santanu New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kolkata, India Photos: Gallery Posts: 6 Original Poster	Dear Julie, Many thanks for the feedback. I am working on my sense of exposure. However, with the lens that I have (an used, 170-500 mm Sigma APO DG ), it was impossible to get closer to the bird. I could do a crop, thereby centering the bird, however, being not too confident about my bird shooting capabilities (:-)), I decided to go for a better composition rather than the perfect bird picture. Actually this bird is pretty common in Kolkata. it is a Redvented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer). Regards, Santanu

05-07-2008, 08:13 AM	#6
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	Originally posted by santanu I could do a crop, thereby centering the bird, however, being not too confident about my bird shooting capabilities (:-)), I decided to go for a better composition rather than the perfect bird picture. Definitely the right call - if the bird were centered, it would be less interesting. I really like the composition, you made a good decision. Originally posted by santanu Actually this bird is pretty common in Kolkata. it is a Redvented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer). It's well-named! Maybe if it's so common you'll have another chance to photograph it. It looks like your roof is a good perch! Julie