DSLRUsers.com

Posted: **Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:11 pm**

For once this week end I took time out to take some photos with the break in the weather up here

First is a Sunbird caught early this morning after getting back from Palm Cove taking some beach landscapes(which I will shortly post for comment

). Taken in a hurry as they were darting around just enough time to whack the 80-400VR on and on board fill flash handheld, not the sharpest but opportunistic nonetheless.

The second and third are a couple of macros taken after the sun had risen this morning(Sunday) with tripod and the 150 f/2.8 HSM Macro trying a few DOF and composition plays.

As always critique and comments most welcome.

cheers
marco

Posted: **Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:18 pm**

the first shot is a wonderful shot of the bird in its environment.

very well done.

Steve

Posted: **Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:23 pm**

I agree, the first one is great. Is that it's tounge sticking out or a twig?

Second one doesn't do much for me as the two OOF blades in the BG clutter the main subject.

The third is very nice. Simple with a great BG

Paul

Posted: **Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:31 pm**

I quite like #3, silky background and nice and sharp where it needs to be. The water drops finish it off nicely. Well composed and well done!

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:00 am**

Thanks Steve, Paul and Daniel for the comments. Yeah Paul that is the Olive-backed Sunbird's tongue. :wink:

cheers
marco

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:23 am**

Your first shot is great. The colour of the sunbird really stand out in that photo.

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:11 am**

Macro,

Yep, love that first shot heaps. Nice composition and a gorgeous setting amongst the flowers. Sunbirds are such quick movers and you have done really well to capture this beautiful shot.

Cheers

Michael

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:07 am**

amazing color and sharpness, !
~William

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:50 pm**

Thanks for the kind comments Huynhie, Finchand William. They are difficult birds to capture and I only had time to rattle off threeimages none of which were really what my mind's eye had in store. But hell I bet we all wish we collected images just as we imagined them

cheers
marco

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:16 pm**

Marco

#1 is just superb- all those lovely primary colours. One to print and frame.

#2 is just too simple. Not enough to hold my interest

#3 I really like, but think a judicous crop from the top may give the image a little more balance (at present the huge amount of green dominates the flower too much).

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:51 pm**

Yeah, Peter, I had toyed with another crop too.
How does this look?

Cheers
Marco

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:28 pm**

marcotrov wrote:Yeah, Peter, I had toyed with another crop too.
How does this look?

Cheers
Marco

Yep - I like this much better, Marco

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:32 pm**

In contrast to peter, I like the second shot for its simplistic nature. That would be my keeper and framer. Shot 1 needed slightly more DOF.

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:09 pm**

Thank you Nito for your comments.
It always amazes me how differently some people view images. What appeals to some fails to appeal to others. That's what makes this forum so great it forces you to think outside both your zones of comfort and familiarity. It only works to improve your photographic vision IMO, it sure helps me

cheers
marco

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:33 pm**

Marco,

The 1st is brilliant. A beautiful capture.

I also like the 3rd. Clean and simple. Very nice.

Posted: **Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:33 pm**

Marco - I'm with Nito on this one -I love the simplicity of the foliage shot.
and the off-centre focal point works really well in this image

Rel

Posted: **Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:34 pm**

Thanks Mark and Rel for the comments. It's interesting people's differing tastes. I like all three for different reasons but I do have a soft spot for the second even though I didn't achieve exactly what I pictured in my mind.

thanks all for the comments. It really does help to improve one's skills
cheers
marco

Posted: **Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:24 pm**

The color in the bird shot is striking, it's luminescent, luminous, ummm, really vivid :lol:

... Good nature image... Looks like you caught a great moment too, with his tongue poking out... Did you offend him ???

Really like the third image too, terrific seperation between subject and background, tempted to crop just a smidge off the top, seems a little top heavy to me... Not much, just a smidge... Bit close to the right hand edge...

The simplicity of the image is what makes it work so well, well done on this...

Posted: **Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:27 pm**

Mudder said:

The color in the bird shot is striking, it's luminescent, luminous, ummm, really vivid ... Good nature image... Looks like you caught a great moment too, with his tongue poking out... Did you offend him ???

More likey laughing at me I was so keen to get to the action before he decided to bolt that I tripped on the dogs toy and nearly ended up head first into the pool fence :lol:

Thanks for the comment and suggestion mudder

cheers
marco

Posted: **Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:56 pm**

that third image is so simple but so powerful
love the green bokeh and the sharp white flowers

amazing image

DSLRUsers.com

A trio of Nature shots

A trio of Nature shots