Swirls of purple_1
by bennettjamie

Comment by obscurity:
This one is interesting. What is it if you don't mind me asking?

Black and White Bridge
by bennettjamie

Comment by obscurity:
I feel the same about this one as I do the tree. I different aperture setting would make this one so much sharper. Your pp is good in my opinion. Black and white fits this scene perfectly to me

Shining Through
by bennettjamie

Comment by obscurity:
I'm far from being someone to critique anyone else's work, but maybe a different aperture setting would have worked better here. Something like f/8 to get everything more in focus and sharper. I love the overall feeling and mood of this photo. Keep up the good work

Bradenton June 029
by bennettjamie

Comment by bennettjamie:
Thanks EL-ROI!!!
I think so too! I feel I need a class in Photoshop, although I have used it and played around in it, all self taught, and I truly dont know what Im doing. As far as shooting, I know I have an eye, but the post processing is what I lack, oh a indoor lighting...

Originally posted by EL-ROI: Wonderful job with the shot. I'm sure you had to be very patient to find the right time to shoot your subject. Love the portrait orientation and the composition of your subject demands it. You did great to get the eye in the top right third and I like how the diagonal line of the beak leads me through the rest of the image. I think the depth of field is good and serves to separate the subject from the background well. Your camera work was done very well with a fine eye toward composition. For post processing, I would like to see the bird a little brighter. Bring some fill light into the situation with a few adjustment layers like levels and brightness/contrast while masking off the background. You can also work the eye a bit to make it pop and really create that focal point. Overall a quality photo worthy of a spot on the wall at any beach house in the world!

Bradenton June 029
by bennettjamie

Comment by bennettjamie:

Originally posted by Tiny: Its not a bad image but on the other hand its nothing that thrilling. A little selective lightening of the RH side and the eye would improve it. May sound silly but landscape will always win out against portrait orientation for me. Hope this doesn't sound harsh I am trying to give an honest opinion of what I see.

I take all criticism contstuctive, harsh or not harsh. Im glad you gave it. THank you so much.

Bradenton June 029
by bennettjamie

Comment by EL-ROI:
Wonderful job with the shot. I'm sure you had to be very patient to find the right time to shoot your subject. Love the portrait orientation and the composition of your subject demands it. You did great to get the eye in the top right third and I like how the diagonal line of the beak leads me through the rest of the image. I think the depth of field is good and serves to separate the subject from the background well. Your camera work was done very well with a fine eye toward composition.

For post processing, I would like to see the bird a little brighter. Bring some fill light into the situation with a few adjustment layers like levels and brightness/contrast while masking off the background. You can also work the eye a bit to make it pop and really create that focal point.

Overall a quality photo worthy of a spot on the wall at any beach house in the world!

Message edited by author 2012-07-08 13:16:51.

Bradenton June 029
by bennettjamie

Comment by Neil:
I think the portrait orientation is fine...nice details and bokeh...just hit it with some shadow highlight to bring out the shadow side of the birds face and feathers.

Bradenton June 029
by bennettjamie

Comment by stevenov:
I'm fine with the vertical. My main problem with the image is that the bird's head gets confused with the dark background. Maybe if the shot were taken at a different angle the bird would be more distinct. A tiny more depth of field so the hairs of the head were sharper and you would have a very nice image. But, it's just my opinion.

Bradenton June 029
by bennettjamie

Comment by RyanW:
A touch of selective contrast to make the feathers pop more perhaps?
Similar to Neil, I usually prefer a landscape shot as opposed to a portrait shot, but sometimes that's not really possible.
Overall i'd likely give this a 6, perhaps a 7 if the features were a bit more pronounced.

Bradenton June 029
by bennettjamie

Comment by Tiny:
Its not a bad image but on the other hand its nothing that thrilling.
A little selective lightening of the RH side and the eye would improve it.
May sound silly but landscape will always win out against portrait orientation for me.
Hope this doesn't sound harsh I am trying to give an honest opinion of what I see.

Message edited by author 2012-07-08 08:21:01.