Nature No-so-angry Birds

DeadJohn · 09-16-2015, 08:56 PM - **1 Like**

I spotted this flock of birds on the cliffs above a beach (Montauk, NY). They were circling as a group, I think searching for berries.

I tried composing to include some ground for scale. The ground was pretty boring, though, with scrawny ocean shrubs in the background and dried grass in the foreground, so I didn't bother filling more of the frame with the ground. That left a lot of perfect, cloudless, bright blue sky. A default Lightroom B&W conversion partially solved the blue sky it still seemed too bright. This posted version is after applying a yellow filter in LR to darken the sky.

Comments appreciated. Was there anything I should have done differently at the time of capture? Is there anything more I should try with processing? (There's a bit of banding in the sky but I think that's due to Flickr compression. My original looks smoother.)

Last edited by DeadJohn; 09-17-2015 at 07:49 PM.

TaoMaas · 09-17-2015, 05:10 AM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

I tried composing to include some ground for scale. The ground was pretty boring, though, with scrawny ocean shrubs in the background and dried grass in the foreground, so I didn't bother filling more of the frame with the ground. That left a lot of perfect, cloudless, bright blue sky.

I think you made the right choice! Those birds in the upper frame that are brighter than the rest are what makes this pic, IMHO. It balances out the darker foreground.

Biosaurus · 10-23-2019, 01:33 AM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

I spotted this flock of birds on the cliffs above a beach (Montauk, NY). They were circling as a group, I think searching for berries.

I tried composing to include some ground for scale. The ground was pretty boring, though, with scrawny ocean shrubs in the background and dried grass in the foreground, so I didn't bother filling more of the frame with the ground. That left a lot of perfect, cloudless, bright blue sky. A default Lightroom B&W conversion partially solved the blue sky it still seemed too bright. This posted version is after applying a yellow filter in LR to darken the sky.

Comments appreciated. Was there anything I should have done differently at the time of capture? Is there anything more I should try with processing? (There's a bit of banding in the sky but I think that's due to Flickr compression. My original looks smoother.)

beautiful, full of movement !

800rate · 11-24-2019, 02:38 PM

I like the b and w. It suits it.

08amczb · 11-25-2019, 08:55 AM

I like it! I always miss the similar moments.

**RGlasel** · 11-25-2019, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

Was there anything I should have done differently at the time of capture? Is there anything more I should try with processing? (There's a bit of banding in the sky but I think that's due to Flickr compression. My original looks smoother.)

It is a nice photo, but you posted this in the critique section (albeit 4 years ago!), so I feel obligated to make some suggestions. Actually, I don't see banding when I look at it on Flickr, but anything in terms of processing that makes the birds stand out more from the sky and ground would help. Even without seeing the original, full-colour version, I think the B&W conversion is a good idea, but I would suggest making the sky not so dark, so the birds stand out more (mind you, you started with a brighter sky, so I might be wrong). There aren't any ominous clouds to highlight in the sky and with so many birds in the air, you can't make the sky a focal point, regardless.

In hindsight, if your shooting position was lower to the ground and pointed up more, I think you would get a better sense of the large number of birds in the air at the same time; as you say, the shrubbery is less interesting than the birds and only makes it more difficult to pick out the birds. Maybe just enough of the ground/shrubbery to provide a bottom border and convey a sense of wide open spaces. You are using a camera with a fixed, single focal length lens, so you can't compress the flock of birds by zooming (and probably can't get the birds to wait for you to get closer

), but you could try cropping to make the birds larger.

You and I probably have different ideas as to what are the most important aspects of this scene and what you have done with it is already good, so please take my suggestions with a grain or two of salt.

**miguelfenoglio** · 11-25-2019, 02:42 PM

I like the shot and the choice of B&W. Composition, IMHO is good, as some ground is defenitely needed. I don't think it is distracting in any way and does not steal focus from the birds. The movement and perspective I think make it a very dramatic shot, almost disturbing (movie memories may be affecting my judgment here)

Would be great to have some bigger birds in the foreground, but that's not something that can be easily controlled and this is a great shot anyway.

DeadJohn · 11-25-2019, 03:41 PM

Originally posted by RGlasel

...and probably can't get the birds to wait for you to get closer...

Originally posted by miguelfenoglio

...Would be great to have some bigger birds in the foreground, but that's not something that can be easily controlled...

Thank you for the thoughtful comments.

Regarding the small parts I quoted above, the birds continued to circle for a while so I could have tried walking into the flock, but quite a few were still on the ground and I'd be a jerk to disturb them. I also didn't have a hat and change of clothes to risk walking under so many birds

09-16-2015, 08:56 PM - 1 Like	#1
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Not-so-angry Birds Camera: Ricoh GR I spotted this flock of birds on the cliffs above a beach (Montauk, NY). They were circling as a group, I think searching for berries. I tried composing to include some ground for scale. The ground was pretty boring, though, with scrawny ocean shrubs in the background and dried grass in the foreground, so I didn't bother filling more of the frame with the ground. That left a lot of perfect, cloudless, bright blue sky. A default Lightroom B&W conversion partially solved the blue sky it still seemed too bright. This posted version is after applying a yellow filter in LR to darken the sky. Comments appreciated. Was there anything I should have done differently at the time of capture? Is there anything more I should try with processing? (There's a bit of banding in the sky but I think that's due to Flickr compression. My original looks smoother.) Last edited by DeadJohn; 09-17-2015 at 07:49 PM.

11-25-2019, 10:43 AM	#6
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,229	Originally posted by DeadJohn Was there anything I should have done differently at the time of capture? Is there anything more I should try with processing? (There's a bit of banding in the sky but I think that's due to Flickr compression. My original looks smoother.) It is a nice photo, but you posted this in the critique section (albeit 4 years ago!), so I feel obligated to make some suggestions. Actually, I don't see banding when I look at it on Flickr, but anything in terms of processing that makes the birds stand out more from the sky and ground would help. Even without seeing the original, full-colour version, I think the B&W conversion is a good idea, but I would suggest making the sky not so dark, so the birds stand out more (mind you, you started with a brighter sky, so I might be wrong). There aren't any ominous clouds to highlight in the sky and with so many birds in the air, you can't make the sky a focal point, regardless. In hindsight, if your shooting position was lower to the ground and pointed up more, I think you would get a better sense of the large number of birds in the air at the same time; as you say, the shrubbery is less interesting than the birds and only makes it more difficult to pick out the birds. Maybe just enough of the ground/shrubbery to provide a bottom border and convey a sense of wide open spaces. You are using a camera with a fixed, single focal length lens, so you can't compress the flock of birds by zooming (and probably can't get the birds to wait for you to get closer), but you could try cropping to make the birds larger. You and I probably have different ideas as to what are the most important aspects of this scene and what you have done with it is already good, so please take my suggestions with a grain or two of salt.

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09-17-2015, 05:10 AM	#2
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by DeadJohn I tried composing to include some ground for scale. The ground was pretty boring, though, with scrawny ocean shrubs in the background and dried grass in the foreground, so I didn't bother filling more of the frame with the ground. That left a lot of perfect, cloudless, bright blue sky. I think you made the right choice! Those birds in the upper frame that are brighter than the rest are what makes this pic, IMHO. It balances out the darker foreground.

10-23-2019, 01:33 AM	#3
Biosaurus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Hérouville Saint Clair, Normandy, France Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 143	Originally posted by DeadJohn I spotted this flock of birds on the cliffs above a beach (Montauk, NY). They were circling as a group, I think searching for berries. I tried composing to include some ground for scale. The ground was pretty boring, though, with scrawny ocean shrubs in the background and dried grass in the foreground, so I didn't bother filling more of the frame with the ground. That left a lot of perfect, cloudless, bright blue sky. A default Lightroom B&W conversion partially solved the blue sky it still seemed too bright. This posted version is after applying a yellow filter in LR to darken the sky. Comments appreciated. Was there anything I should have done differently at the time of capture? Is there anything more I should try with processing? (There's a bit of banding in the sky but I think that's due to Flickr compression. My original looks smoother.) beautiful, full of movement !

11-24-2019, 02:38 PM	#4
800rate Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 252	I like the b and w. It suits it.

11-25-2019, 08:55 AM	#5
08amczb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 796	I like it! I always miss the similar moments.

11-25-2019, 02:42 PM	#7
miguelfenoglio Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Madrid Photos: Gallery Posts: 364	I like the shot and the choice of B&W. Composition, IMHO is good, as some ground is defenitely needed. I don't think it is distracting in any way and does not steal focus from the birds. The movement and perspective I think make it a very dramatic shot, almost disturbing (movie memories may be affecting my judgment here) Would be great to have some bigger birds in the foreground, but that's not something that can be easily controlled and this is a great shot anyway.

11-25-2019, 03:41 PM	#8
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834 Original Poster	Originally posted by RGlasel ...and probably can't get the birds to wait for you to get closer... Originally posted by miguelfenoglio ...Would be great to have some bigger birds in the foreground, but that's not something that can be easily controlled... Thank you for the thoughtful comments. Regarding the small parts I quoted above, the birds continued to circle for a while so I could have tried walking into the flock, but quite a few were still on the ground and I'd be a jerk to disturb them. I also didn't have a hat and change of clothes to risk walking under so many birds