Redshank


Posted by Peterh on Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:18 am

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Image
Common Redshank, (Tringa totanus), Terschelling, The Netherlands, May 2005, 1Dmk2 + 500 (perhaps 1.4x), Fill flash, FF

I post this image, bacause I like it a lot and moreover it can be discussed, because it is definately not flaweless.

I was accepted by this Redshank in his field. In my experience they are not easily approached, so I handled it with great care. To my surprise it accepted me. It was calling a lot when I tried to get closer, but when I was finally in shooting range and stayed there for an hour or so it would walk right by me. Here it was replying to another redshank, probably it's mate which was on the nest appr a 50 m from where we were. 'Unfortunately' it was quite close at the moment for the FL I worked with. I had to choose to either cut the flowers in the BG or cut the virtual feet. I choose not to cut the flowers.

Do you agree with this choise?

ANY other comments are also welcome as always.

Cheers

Peter
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by Ofer Levy on Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:24 am
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The flowers make the shot for me! :wink: I agree a bit more room at the bottom could be great but I would be happy with this image the way it is, maybe just moving the camera a bit to the right so the bird is a bit more to the left. :wink:
Had another look at it and I think you could even take it as a vertical and include the flowers and the virtual feet... :roll:
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by Darryl Morgan on Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:28 am
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I don't think your choice was bad at all. From the grass it looks like the feet are practically covered so the way you've framed it looks like it's disappearing into the grass. Love the flowers :)
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by Miguel Lasa on Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:43 am
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love the fowers too, a beautiful shot Peter :D
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by Bart Breet on Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:20 am
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Nice image Peter, I like how the bird it framed by the flowers, although a little bit more room for the virtual legs would have been nice.

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by KK Hui on Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:57 am
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I'd have cut the flower and maintained the virtual feet instead in this case, Peter! :wink:
Wonderful shot as is and adding a catchlight would bring it to live too ...
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by pleverington on Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:14 am
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No. You should have taken the photo of the bird with feet and then another shot forgetting the bird and go for the flowers, then combine them in photoshop. I do this as a matter of practice. Use manual exposure and manual white balance for this. This is a beautiful shot and the sharp color contrast in that backround is a good way to handle the composition. The flower color is close to the green compliment so things seeem harmonious, yet voiceful. This is a very, very pleasing picture to me. Nice and delicate....I like it very much...are you sure you don't have another photo with some feet in it? But like others have pointed out it's not bad at all as presented.
 

by Glenn Bartley on Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:32 am
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In a perfect world the feet would have been nice. But it is an amazing shot as is!

:)
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by ejmartin on Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:07 am
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I very much like the bird framed by flowers. The bird a little more to the left in the
frame would have been nice. I agree with the decision to amputate the
feet -- not only would the flowers have been chopped off, the bird would
have too little headroom; since they are virtual feet, disappearing into the grass,
perhaps a little artful cloning could give the appearance of footroom at the bottom?
emil
 

by Jason Hahn on Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:15 am
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Very, nice, I think I would have kept the flowers too. The colors and position of flowers grab your eye so well, I think cutting them off would have caused far more distraction then the feet being cutoff does.

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by mcameron on Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:38 am
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I like the flowers surrounding the bird. Great shot.

-Mike
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by Gerald J Romanchuk on Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:06 pm
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Nice Shot! I like the open bill & the pose. I don't mind the missing feet - would prefer a bit more room on the bottom.

I have mixed feelings about the flowers - I find the ones behind the bird constantly draw my attention away from the bird. I would consider trying to tone down their brightness, but not cutting them out.
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by Kim Steininger on Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:33 pm
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I guess I'm the odd man out because I have to say that I find the flowers distracting. I think they compete with the bird. Probably because of the color. I really love everything else about this image though! A great pose you captured and that soft dreamy grass and BG is awesome!!! I love the orange with the green.
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by Mike Danzenbaker on Mon Oct 31, 2005 2:00 pm
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I agree with your choice of those two options, but ideally with enough presence of mind pleverington's suggestion seems ideal. Another option might have been to shoot vertically. Even so, this is a beautiful shot worthy of display.
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by Terence P. Brashear on Mon Oct 31, 2005 3:45 pm
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I like everything about this image. Especially the habitat which adds so much to the image. The bird calling a is a bonus. Your description of how you captured this was enjoyable too.

Regards,

Terry
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by Ligia on Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:22 pm
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Love it Peter !!!!! The flowers make the shot for me and the open beak is definitely a bonus. Like it just as is. Congrats! :D :D
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by Chris Kayler on Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:03 pm
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Beautiful shot Peter. You definately made the right choice imo.
 

by Mike Wilson on Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:53 pm
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Love it as is. Really an incredilbe shorebird image.
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by Peterh on Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:33 am
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Thanks all for the input. :)

Going vertical was not really an option. Would lose the flowers in front and then I'd get remarks from you that you would have liked more room in front of the bird :roll: .

Unfortunately no other shots like this with its bill open. Another shot where it is right next to the fowers is on my website, but that's a static shot.

I'll post a vertical of this one next.

Cheers

Peter
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by LHays on Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:32 am
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Peter
I enjoy the story of how you captured this as much as the image. I like it. Yeah.....not perfect, but then it's not like I haven't cut off the feet before either. I'm drawn to his calling and had to look twice to think about the missing feet.
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