Straight out of the camera.... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/31/2004 03:29:43 PM · #1

I visited Norfolk Wildlife Centre today, glorious day but arrived at 11:30, I now know thats not the best time to shoot, the second thing I learnt is if you take a new cam and your eyesight ain't what it used to be then take your glasses too. Spent most of the time unable to see or check my settings!

Anyway, I have uploaded the best of the bunch here , all of the pictures are uncropped (a first for me here) and only some of them have a little levels/contrast changes.

I reckon I (maybe) have 2 or 3 images that I could submit for prints and would welcome those that have the time to wade through the 21 pics and critique them?

Thanks
Andi

edited for speiling mistooks
also edited to fix the link

Message edited by author 2004-05-31 15:45:05.

heida

Canon EOS-5D

05/31/2004 03:37:38 PM · #2

your link is broken

StevePax

Canon PowerShot S50

05/31/2004 03:39:45 PM · #3

Fixed Link

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

05/31/2004 03:44:03 PM · #4

Thanks Steve, I guess it was my logged in link

Canon EOS-60D

05/31/2004 04:28:38 PM · #5

You have some great shots in there...I found three that I thought were really cute as far as prints go...#019, #061, and #003. I thought the 019 would be cute with some kind of title about sticking your neck out, and 061 could have something about seeing eye to eye. My favorite was 003, because you can definitely see that the grass is greener on the other side! :o)

moodville

Nikon D100

05/31/2004 04:29:29 PM · #6

Just some quick observations as I look through them....

008 - It could probably do with a little USM. Is the purple/blue part of the bird?

003 - The highlights look a little hot, but overall the image has humor.

016 - Composition is good, nice ripple in the water. The highlights are a little bright but not distractingly so. The yellow/black beak is neat, but the water color isnt the best so may want to see what it looks like in b&w.

019 - The green/rust thing in the lower right is a little distracting and should be easy enough to clone out. Again the highlights are a little hot. Composition is good. Another one that may look good in b&w.

021 - The face looks far too blurry.

025 - Taken through glass? Could try more contrast and USM, but think it may be too OOF.

033 - Good dof with nice details in the pebbles and feathers. Exposure looks ok. Good expression on the face and nice catchlight.

034 - A slight crop on the left and it'd look good.

035 - Maybe a slight crop on the top and a little more USM and contrast. Maybe crop out of the bowl too.

044 - Good color and detail.

048 - Highlights look a little bright and the white at the top of the shot is a little distractive - either crop out or clone. Good composition and catchlight.

058 - Good composition, exposure looks ok, and nice color vibrancy.

061 - Cute stare down.

066 - Good texture on the back of the neck, maybe a slight dodge near the eye.

071 - Good pose but a closer crop would remove the distracting elements and also make it the main focus. Some USM, contrast, levels and/or sat adjustments may make it pop more.

088 - Good color, shame about having the back leg so close to the edge. You didnt crop out the leg so may be able to expand the size of the canvas and clone grass there to give it some breathing room.

111, 114, 119 - Could all do with a closer crop, or else portrait format.

115 - Good capture of interaction.

My favs are 33, 44, and 58.

All above opinions are entirely subjective.

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

05/31/2004 04:56:51 PM · #7

Thanks for your replies,

Laurie, your top threee are probably my favs for possible prints and when I took 003 "the grass is always greener" was in my mind.

Moodville, I thank you whole heartedly for taking the time to critique so many photos, you should be paid for this :) As I said earlier these are all uncroped and with only minor post shot alterations. i really think I can play with some of these in ps and get decent pics.

Heres 33 after a little ps, have I done good?

I had really hoped to get some decent peacock pics but they didn't work out.

moodville

Nikon D100

05/31/2004 05:37:43 PM · #8

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Heres 33 after a little ps, have I done good?

I had really hoped to get some decent peacock pics but they didn't work out.

Maybe a tad overdone, but the crop and softness is certainly the way to go.

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

05/31/2004 06:13:41 PM · #9

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

I really like this shot. The only thing I see about it that could possibly be fixed is a slight oversharpening. It's very prominent on the tip of the beak. It also show's up in the fine feathers above the beak and eyes. Otherwise a very beauty image. Great stuff!!

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

05/31/2004 06:53:45 PM · #10

Thanks Owen, I reckon I can sort that out.
Since my challenge high is 5.3, if this pic was in a challenge (and met it) would peeps score it higher?

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

05/31/2004 07:04:21 PM · #11

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Thanks Owen, I reckon I can sort that out.
Since my challenge high is 5.3, if this pic was in a challenge (and met it) would peeps score it higher?

I would score it pretty high. It has very strong composition IMHO; the eye and the beak fall at 1/3 intersections (Rule of Thirds). The subject is srtong and interesting. The contrast and colours in the image are good. A winning combination. BTW, which lens did you use?

05/31/2004 07:13:22 PM · #12

Thanks again Owen, I used the 75-300 USM IS, only got it yesterday so still learning how it operates (glasses might help). I was hoping to buy the 70-200 f4L but no guarantee of delivery before my holiday.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

06/01/2004 02:42:30 PM · #13

Hmm, maybe I should do periodical saves when playing? Started again from the orig, less sharpening, no neatimage and the original eye (I had played with it on the other pic but it didn't look real so I pasted it back in, on a better monitor I saw my poor attempt).

Anyway, thanks for the tips

Canon EOS-60D

06/01/2004 02:46:58 PM · #14

Pretty little birdy! :o)

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

06/01/2004 03:01:25 PM · #15

Thanks for the comment Laurie :)
Hey, how do I know who has selected a pic as a fav?

Canon EOS-60D

06/01/2004 03:03:52 PM · #16

Originally posted by Ecce Signum:

Hey, how do I know who has selected a pic as a fav?

Well, on the challenge photos it comes up in the last column of data when looking on your profile page. As for the other pics in your portfolio that are picked as favorites, I have no idea. Searching through all of your posted pictures to see if any have been chosen as a favorite is time consuming. I don't know if there's a shortcut! :o)

Kylie

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

06/01/2004 03:05:31 PM · #17

The baby falcon pics are just gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!