The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by Phocal:
Snaffles Thanks Susan,

I really struggled with the crop on this one. I only had one lens with me (an equivalent 35mm prime) so was pretty limited in what was included in frame. I really liked the natural vignetting that came out in the photo. If I cropped to place the trees higher the photo seemed to dark with all the black at the bottom and if I cropped to place them lower I lost the black on the bottom that I really liked. So.......in the end I went with no crop........really should have shot a few more frames with a bit different composition but was standing on a busy bridge in heavy fog with cars doing 70mph past me and wanted to get the shot and get out of there. With µ4/3 you have twice the DoF compared to full frame so I really shot higher then Æ’5.6, in this shot I went with Æ’4.0 and the resulting shutter speed. I could have stopped down more but I am a wildlife photographer and never really think about how landscape people shoot at those crazy small apertures.....I prefer wide and fast :-)

SSSHHH
by Phocal

Comment by Lydia:
Greetings from the Critique Club, Ronnie!

How interesting that just today, I was enjoing through your portfolio and then... I've been assigned one of your images to critique. Ha!

I love your wildlife images.

In this image, I really enjoy the blown sky... as if he were in front of a white posterboard to highlight his features. I enjoy the wonderful focus right where it should be... right on his eyes.

I like the detail you've captured in his feathers.

Such a good job on all of these.

I think that the intense stare of his eyes... a raptor... keen eyesight watching and waiting for prey... isn't the perfect fit for a "Calm" image. The tension we feel seeing his alert gaze is probably what lowered your score on this moving image.

So... my "diagnosis" is that this is a wonderful image... but not in this particular challenge.

I can't wait to see your next entry, Ronnie.

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by snaffles:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Aw dang, a ribbon winner....always the toughest to critique as the vox populi have already spoken and voted. So will do my best. *looking for flaws*.....hmmmm....this could take awhile. *off to refill wineglass*

OK. Your comp is a little centred, but that happens a lot in images where the minimalistic approach rules, as it does here. I recognized the birds as cormorants because we have them here too though I don't think in the winter months. Nice gentle leading motion from left to right with a variety of scale in terms of the silhouettes. Nice that you have a perfectly calm surface to work with. A little surprised that you shot so fast, but who am I to argue? There is almost a natural level of vignetting happening too here, both above and below. You did a great job here, congrats on the ribbon and keep up the good work!

Susan

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by Kroburg:
Congrats on the Yellow.

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by asij:
Congrats! Really like this one!

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by mitalapo:
like passing thoughts

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by grahamgator:
Nice image. I think a little less centered would make it better. Just a thought.

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by blindjustice:
Fantastic sense of scale.

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by Abra:
Intriguing Simple and beautiful.

The Unknown
by Phocal

Comment by insteps:
No beginnings or endings. A beautiful moment and well caught.