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"Crying, Waiting, Hoping"
"Crying, Waiting, Hoping"
Melethia


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Beatles Song/Lyrics (Advanced Editing IV*)
Collection: Challenges 2006
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Location: Joan's porch
Date: May 25, 2006
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/60
Galleries: Animals
Date Uploaded: May 28, 2006

Featuring the elusive fifth Beatle!

A friend of mine who knows I have this silly photography addiction called me to tell me about a nest of baby birds on another friend's porch. She called specifically to tell me to go take a picture of them. This happens more and more these days - people telling me "you need to get a picture of..."

So I took a picture of them. They'd hunker down and hide, then mom would swoop in ever so briefly (they're in a nest in a corner of a covered porch) and they'd all pop up - that's when I'd click. I also discovered after a bit that they'd pop up when they heard the shutter, too, but then settle back down kinda sadly, since they were expecting mom, not a camera flash.

Shot in jpeg vice raw since all I have is onboard flash and I needed to use it. Time to investigate the wonders of a "real" flash, I suppose.

Post challenge:
Post processing included levels, curves, hue/sat, and Sharpen several times vice USM - I like Sharpen better for jpeg files for some reason.


A different shot, processed a bit differently:

Statistics
Place: 13 out of 273
Avg (all users): 6.7163
Avg (commenters): 7.7407
Avg (participants): 6.1667
Avg (non-participants): 7.0000
Views since voting: 4110
Views during voting: 486
Votes: 282
Comments: 70
Favorites: 17 (view)


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AuthorThread
03/11/2008 02:42:49 AM
A fine shot, of an otherwise ordinary photo - except that timing was great. All the mouths equally, hungrily opened add balance. not much in the way of color in this particular capture, and not much that is striking to behold. I would have given this a 6, for an above average moment in time captured efficiently. They sure are cute, though!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/06/2008 02:37:12 AM
This is just too damn cute. They are really belting out the tunes here. Or is that hunger cries?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/25/2007 06:36:04 PM
Deb, I don't think I ever left you a comment on this marvelous shot. I wasn't a member of DPC during this challenge, but I should have noticed it on your profile page. This was so perfect for song lyrics -- they look like they are singing their hearts out. I get a huge smile when I look at these little rascals. Such an appropriate title too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/16/2007 11:12:03 AM
what a great shot! This is priceless!! (nice finish too) :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/26/2007 08:02:22 PM
This is such a great capture. Way to go.
I love it and it makes me laugh each time I view it. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/24/2007 04:10:07 PM
"O Sola Mio" by the 5 Tenors.

Cool shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/22/2007 08:02:30 PM
Hey, I had been wondering how it would look with some more colour. Great! What a good picture. (funny too!) Nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/20/2007 07:01:57 PM
It is a great capture, Deb- I love it because I love anything - "Nature"- Aside from that , I don't think anyone mentioned that these are barn Swallow babies and they always nest in an enclosed area- garage,porch , barns- hence their name. Great image and thanks for sharing.

Message edited by author 2007-04-20 19:02:58.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
04/20/2007 04:23:35 PM
Amazing photograph
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/18/2007 03:22:30 AM
awsome photograph ...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/11/2007 03:56:55 PM
Deb, this is an excellent capture but more importantly a very good photo. These little guys are so sharp, and the emotive is great. I think you should be proud to have this on your front page! And look at those 15 favorites. I bow down in awe :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/06/2007 04:40:30 PM
wow, what a capture !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
11/09/2006 09:30:49 PM
Wow this is an awesome shot. I love babies of any sort and baby birds are still babies. They're soo cute!!! I love that you caught their moutns open.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/05/2006 11:09:00 PM
This is a glorious picture! You timed it perfectly. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
09/04/2006 11:06:07 AM
Commical shot.. If I were to improve, I'll change the ratio to perhaps a 6"x3" to get a long feel.. more focus on the birds..
Great stock quality..
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 10:54:25 PM
Oh goodness this is an amazing shot. It has an almost ludicrous, Loony Tunes-esque quality to it. Amazing that you got a shot when they all had their mouths open.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
08/07/2006 11:43:46 AM
This is spectacular! Sheer comedy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/09/2006 08:08:34 PM
This is pretty amazing!

Great shot Deb!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/08/2006 11:33:40 PM
A wonderful capture of a difficult subject
Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/25/2006 01:41:25 PM
Obviously a rare shot to be had. Your post processing really brought it to life. Excellent.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/25/2006 07:18:37 AM
[[trading post]]

I'm not a Beatles fan so I don't know this song, but this is a nice image, composition, colors, lighting and postprocessing are all very good.

the nest could use a bit of curves and sharpening, it seems a bit flat.

you'd probably get an 8 from me if I'd voted...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/22/2006 11:05:51 AM
I missed this shot earlier. Such a wonderful capture! You could put many different titles on this one. Big print or stock potential on this one I would think.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/14/2006 09:50:35 AM
Post Challenge Critique...
Challenge: Beatles Song/Lyrics (Advanced Editing)
Challenge Description: too lazy to cut and paste this :-(

A Score re meeting the challenge
{ 0} Does not meet challenge
{+1} Clearly meets the challenge
**{+2} Epitomises the idea behind the challenge
I know the track so this is right in line with the challenge and the sentiments of the original song.

B Composition & Aesthetics
{ 0} No discernible compositional form or merit
{+1} Snap-shot like composition
**{+2} Well composed, aesthetically pleasing
{+3} An exceptional composition/exceptional aesthetics
It is all in this shot: leading lines, rule of thirds and emotion. There is a narrative to the picture, too.

C Technical Considerations
{ 0} Technically flawed
{+1} Technically OK
**{+2} Technically well executed
{+3} Evidence of technical mastery/wizardry
There is a potential lack of detail in the neck and head area of the chicks that is not helped by the shadow that underpins most of them. Maybe you do need that new flash and the use of something like a LightSphere, a diffuser or maybe just bouncing the flash to soften the shadows. But this is nit-picking as the rest hangs together well.

D WOW Factor
{ 0} Not special/ordinary
{+1} Has some degree of impact
**{+2} Obvious impact
{+3} Slaps you in face
This one really hits home as there is so much character in the picture. Almost a “slap” :-)

Total score: 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/11/2006 07:25:27 PM
Congrats on a PB and another top-20. Sorry to leave it to the last minute

Composition
Because the surroundings aren't the most exciting (ie if you'd cropped less you wouldnt have introduced new interest) you needed to fill the frame pretty much, but you've managed to do that without it being too centred and static.

Technical stuff (exposure, dof, lighting etc…)
FOcus is brilliant, especially considering the fleeting moment and the borderline shutterspeed. Exposed well for the dark birds and much lighter b/g

Meeting the challenge
Without a doubt. Not only does the quote fit the photo, it helps give it extra emotion.

Post-processing
Didnt think there was much to say about PP work 'til I looked at the original - you've very mcuh got the full potential out of the photo, much better than I would have done.

Misc
I love the earthy tones. The border fits well with these. Awesome timing.

My personal opinion
Great entry to the challenge, well-deserving of the score & placement. Well done

Message edited by author 2006-06-11 19:25:44.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/08/2006 08:11:54 PM
--Trading Post Comment--

First of all, congrats on your best scoring photograph to date. I would encourage you to include your post-processing in the Photographer's Comments along with the great info that you've already included.

Camera Work/Technical: Great, crisp focus and a nice job keeping the entire scene in focus.

Lighting: The lighting is very even. I think I am reading that you used the on camera flash. If that is indeed the case, you did a fine job with it.

Composition/Content: Not bad, but I think that a portrait style crop might have worked better than the landscape. I find myself wanting to see the bottom of the nest.

My Opinion: This is a very nice image and a well-deserved top 15 finish. I think that I would have used a white border and shot it in portrait orientation. I think this one would have broken 7 with those two changes.

Eric
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 11:47:00 PM
This is one of those unforgettable images. What a capture! Congratulations on your top 20 finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 09:31:19 PM
==Trading Post==

Trying to catch up from being so far behind...

Wow, no 1s. That's an accomplishment. That's an amazing capture, and the pure "difficulty" factor garnered you a lot of high votes. Your photography has come a LONG ways recently. The composition here is strong, even though I don't think I would have cropped it quite this way.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 09:19:37 PM
Trading post...
A new PB! Great shot too. I love the open beaks. The color is excellent. Except for the bright flash, which you noted, I don't really see anything that could be improved. And you didn't even get a single one! Way to go!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 12:08:37 PM
so glad this placed so well...... fyi 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 11:36:29 AM
Great picture. :) I really like how they're lined up, facing each side of the frame. Great capture. I like the colour treatment, and the way their mouths pop out of the image (literally too I suppose). Overall the tone seems uniform, and I think a flash head that you could bounce around would really have improved the lighting. Really great overall.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 09:11:44 AM
Congratulations Deb! I love this!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 08:49:23 AM
Well done on the high finish!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 08:36:04 AM
Congratulations on your top 13th place! Wonderful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 07:39:33 AM
Woo Hoo Deb!!!!! 13th place! 6.71!! I am so not surprised with this fantastic photo! I would have loved to see a ribbon for this one, but happy it finished so strong!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 03:02:31 AM
I just love this photo! It looks as if they're singing ''Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" with the fifth one just mouthing the words...ha Great catch!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 01:25:42 AM
Trading Post Comment

Wonderfully funny photo...great capture (and having read your account, great patience too).

I think the lighting is a tad bright and (given the location of the nest) it doesn't permit much shadow. The photo, therefore, appears a bit flat or two dimensional to me, even though it is in a corner. Color is not dominant in this shot, so I wonder if it would do well in B&W.

This obviously is well received. Congrats on the top 20 finish. I didn't vote in this challenge (I don't know where my head was, because I am of the Beatles generation and always enjoyed their music) but I would have voted it relatively high - mostly because of the impact of the subject matter.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 01:02:44 AM
Great shot Deb, top 5% but more importantly a great capture with all your models cooperating perfectly!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 12:17:55 AM
omg, this is too funny! Nice capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/07/2006 12:15:17 AM
Great shot Deb. I gave you a 7 on this one so I helped out a bit. I will come back later for a proper critique but congrats on your top 20!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
06/06/2006 05:22:30 PM
:)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/06/2006 07:31:21 AM
Cute as!! reminds me of church or was it the supermarket with the kids?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/05/2006 12:51:48 AM
great capture, nice lighting for what should have been a low light situation
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/04/2006 02:47:10 PM
love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/04/2006 04:48:52 AM
Love it. A tighter crop may have helped
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/04/2006 04:20:56 AM
nice , tied for 2nd in my voting

is that your house ?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/03/2006 07:34:02 PM
This perfectly describes the lyrics. What a great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/03/2006 10:30:57 AM
Great catch!! My only nit is the vertical edge on the left is a distraction and could have been cropped out (equally on both sides) without negatively impacting the image. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/03/2006 03:57:33 AM
Amazing image.....I love it.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/02/2006 04:10:17 PM
HA! That's great.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/02/2006 09:12:19 AM
This is acutally the most suitable title in the whole challenge. Too bad it's interior.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/02/2006 07:02:42 AM
Very nice but you should maybe had got near them. That could be a little harder.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/02/2006 01:14:39 AM
Using a new formula....
0-2 Meets the Challenge = 2
0-2 Technical Merit = 2
0-4 Interest/Creativity = 4
0-2 The "wow factor" = 1
Final score: 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2006 11:20:36 PM
It is a very good concept. I would prefer to shot it closer.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2006 10:21:56 PM
Oh my gosh look at those birdies!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2006 05:07:39 PM
What a wonderful catch!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2006 02:51:17 PM
It's a pity I can't give more than 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2006 11:55:21 AM
Perfect Beatles lyric for this shot. I bet you had a great time taking these little guys picture. I love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/01/2006 03:24:49 AM
Just a slightly closer crop would get rid of the verticle lines leading away from your subject on the extreme left. Awesome photograph! Amazing capture. Top 10 entry in my opinion.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 11:35:57 PM
this is adorable
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 10:40:23 PM
Ohmygoodness! This is the cutest thing I've ever seen. . .and the title is PERFECT! One of the best fits for the challenge I've seen! The clarity of those birds and the rich colors add so much to it too! This is one of my favorites!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 10:07:27 PM
What a great find.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 09:48:51 PM
A most dynamic and touching image. Bump.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 08:23:52 PM
How great of a catch is this? Good one and nice detail.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 05:24:52 PM
Purdy rad, soldier
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 04:50:06 PM
LOL
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 11:47:33 AM
I can't stop laughing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 08:56:21 AM
What a great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 03:50:28 AM
Lovely shot, but wouldn't it be better to crop the boring walls a bit more?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 12:54:08 AM
Ha ha ha, I just love it! What a great capture, and so well applied to the lyrics. Made me chuckle.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/31/2006 12:40:58 AM
Oh my goodness, is this real? Amazing work, I love it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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