birdsbirdsbirds

[obscure.individual]

hello all, haven't posted on here in a while as i've been working on my photography. i've recently become obsessed with birds and i'd like to ask for your input on my bird photography :smileys:

 

[Mully]

#3 and #5 are your best ones ...#1 has no feet...#2 bird too small ... #4 back to camera and too small

 

[obscure.individual]

#3 and #5 are your best ones ...#1 has no feet...#2 bird too small ... #4 back to camera and too small

thank you for your input! so you're saying that i should work on getting closer, including the bird's feet, and getting their front side in the photo?

 

[sm4him]

It is disturbingly easy to become obsessed with birds! I know, I'm right there with you. :lmao:

Generally speaking, you want to be able to see at least one of the bird's eyes, and you want the bird to be close enough to clearly be the subject. Otherwise, as is the case for me in #2 and #4, the bird(s) just get lost in the frame. In the first, as mentioned, you cut off its feet. I try to treat my birds just like I would a person portrait--if I cut off body parts, I try to do it so it looks intentional, not like I just didn't get its feet in the frame. So, on the first one for instance, I'd maybe just go ahead and crop way in, since the way the bird is kind fluffed up here is really the focus anyway.

It also helps if you can stand where the sun is behind you, so that then you get the catchlights in the birds eyes.

I really like the third, and I like the cool bokeh in it; but I don't really like that it almost looks like the cool bokeh is coming right out of the bird's mouth--if it were mine, I'd be inclined to try to remove that one.

 

[obscure.individual]

It is disturbingly easy to become obsessed with birds! I know, I'm right there with you. :lmao:

Generally speaking, you want to be able to see at least one of the bird's eyes, and you want the bird to be close enough to clearly be the subject. Otherwise, as is the case for me in #2 and #4, the bird(s) just get lost in the frame. In the first, as mentioned, you cut off its feet. I try to treat my birds just like I would a person portrait--if I cut off body parts, I try to do it so it looks intentional, not like I just didn't get its feet in the frame. So, on the first one for instance, I'd maybe just go ahead and crop way in, since the way the bird is kind fluffed up here is really the focus anyway.

It also helps if you can stand where the sun is behind you, so that then you get the catchlights in the birds eyes.

I really like the third, and I like the cool bokeh in it; but I don't really like that it almost looks like the cool bokeh is coming right out of the bird's mouth--if it were mine, I'd be inclined to try to remove that one.

i just love how hard it is to get close to some birds, it gives me a challenge and i love challenges

i wasn't sure whether i wanted to include #2 in the post when i was choosing the photos to attach, but i added it anyway because i took all of these photos on the same day. i don't really see how the birds in #4 get lost in the frame though, care to explain what you mean exactly? the birds and the stone cross that they're perched upon are the subjects. yeah i'm gonna just crop the bird in #1's feet off right above its feet.

the day i took those photos it was overcast, but i'll keep that in mind next time i see birds and i have my camera in my hand.

i see what you mean with the bokeh, i think i'll keep it but tone it down a bit so that its not "out there," i think it won't look like it's coming out of the bird's mouth if it were more subtle.

thank you very much for your input!