Debbie Porter
December 2024 - Spotted Sandpiper
About the Image(s)
I liked how this little Spotted Sandpiper found the perfect spot for a rest. She seems well protected. I'm not sure about the crop. I wasn't sure if I should crop in more so people could better see how well she fits in the log.
ISO 800, 7.1f, 1/4000 sec
8 comments posted
Deborah Albert
I just love this. It might be stronger as a vertical (not tight). Posted: 12/11/2024 18:03:22
The image looks great, front-light, with catchlight in the eye. I do think that the bird, somehow gets lost in the brightly lit post. I would recommend lowering the some selective reduction in brightness on it. Posted: 12/14/2024 13:00:44
(Groups 2 & 3)
Debbie,
I like a lot about this image: The juxtaposition of the complementary colors blue and gold, and way the water transitions from one color to the other. I also like the way the sandpiper fits snugly into the little cup created by the support.
I have two basic issues: The subject is the bird, and it's too small in the fram/ You don't need nearly that much of the water to make your point, and it makes the bird hard to see.
The other thing is, that's not a natural log. It's a human-altered chunk of wood meant to serve a purpose. So to make this acceptable in ND competition, you will need to crop it im much more tightly. "Hand of Man" is permitted when it is a necessary part of the story, but it should still be a SMALL part of the overall image. Thus, this would probably not be outright DQ'd but rather scored low by most judges.
If you have enough resolution, you can experiment with some different crops to better emphasize the bird and the notch, include enough water to tell the story, but cut out the great majority of the stump.
Lillian Posted: 12/16/2024 18:36:23
I like a lot about this image: The juxtaposition of the complementary colors blue and gold, and way the water transitions from one color to the other. I also like the way the sandpiper fits snugly into the little cup created by the support.
I have two basic issues: The subject is the bird, and it's too small in the fram/ You don't need nearly that much of the water to make your point, and it makes the bird hard to see.
The other thing is, that's not a natural log. It's a human-altered chunk of wood meant to serve a purpose. So to make this acceptable in ND competition, you will need to crop it im much more tightly. "Hand of Man" is permitted when it is a necessary part of the story, but it should still be a SMALL part of the overall image. Thus, this would probably not be outright DQ'd but rather scored low by most judges.
If you have enough resolution, you can experiment with some different crops to better emphasize the bird and the notch, include enough water to tell the story, but cut out the great majority of the stump.
Lillian Posted: 12/16/2024 18:36:23
Debbie Porter
Hi. Thanks for your comments. Do you think it should be a vertical or horizontal crop?
Posted: 12/16/2024 20:06:18
(Groups 2 & 3)
Probably horizontal, but I never know for sure until I start experimenting.
Lillian Posted: 12/16/2024 20:56:11
Lillian Posted: 12/16/2024 20:56:11
Nice image. However I would crop so that the bird and the notch are both emphasized. Probably a close crop will do. So much of water is really not contributing much to the image. Posted: 12/19/2024 22:33:38
Debbie
I agree with your comment on how protected the bird is. It took me a second to actually see it. I would also crop as close as you can. Posted: 12/20/2024 17:28:20
I agree with your comment on how protected the bird is. It took me a second to actually see it. I would also crop as close as you can. Posted: 12/20/2024 17:28:20
I agree with above comments. I would try a tighter crop. Posted: 12/24/2024 17:48:15