Does anyone else like this? (Bird Photo)

[Jace]

I went down to a lake the other day to shoot some things, and saw this. After looking at it for a few days I just keep liking it, and wondered if it's just my bad eye, or if it's a LITTLE neat.

This is the original, with no comp really,

And then I cropped it and worked on the color a little.

And then this one:

 

[Forkie]

The traffic cone completely detracts fromthe bird - it's as if you didn't intend the cone to be in shot (which I assume you did!). The last edit is the best one, although I have to be honest, the composition in general isn't great. Not to mention, it's the back of a seagull's head!

 

[rambler]

I do not like big blurry objects in the foreground. Bottom one is much better. You have the gull nicely in focus. The feathers are sharp/clear. The background does not add much. I would have like to have seen it either more washed out or maybe even in focus, ie. a deeper depth of field. Maybe clear waves would have added more interest. In short, not a "wow" photo. Keep trying, though. Get him to turn his head next time.

BTW: Here is a book that might help: The Bird Photography Field guide by David Tipling. It fits right in the palm of my hand, has nice color photos and lots of tips. I found it by chance browsing at a nearby Barnes and Noble.

Google the author to get this:
http://www.davidtipling.com/

 

[Jace]

Thanks guys! I think maybe it's just me, lol. I think one of my issues is that I see something before I shoot it thinking it looks cool, but someone else just seeing the image isn't in the same frAme of mind that I am. I liked this one because of the bird looking away, out toward the lake lol. I have some profile shots of him, he was pretty cooperative, that I can post when I'm home, but I think I'll just have to file this one under my personals.

But no one else gets an almost lonely/longing feel from him? Am I weird?

 

[hopdaddy]

But no one else gets an almost lonely/longing feel from him? Am I weird?

Well It's a good Idea, but ,No I don't get the feeling....In Bird photography ,the Head angle,and Eye contact ,needs careful consideration.

 

[Davor]

The image seems crooked and should be rotated clockwise about a couple degrees. There is no real composition in this image, it just seems like a snapshot to me. I don't get why the pylon is there, it almost seems like the pylon is the subject not the bird. Im also trying to understand what the bird is looking at that is so interesting? Also the birds color blends in to well with the background and foreground which in case gives the pylon 100% of the attention.

 

[Hardrock]

For me its a definite no. You can't see the birds face and the colors are blah. Maybe try getting the bird on the beach in the sand and get low with the camera with the bird facing you. Just my thoughts.

 

[photocist]

In general, unless its a bunch of seagulls doing some weird things, they are pretty boring... unless the lighting is spectacular.

 

[Texas Aggie]

I wouldn't have thought he was lonely if you didn't mention it. It's definitely better with the cone cropped out, but the back of a bird generally isn't all that interesting.

 

[bazooka]

I got the feeling when I first saw it... bird seems sad, wishing he was somewhere else, or perhaps waiting for someone who never showed up, or maybe he's lost and not sure which way to go to get back home. But it sounds like I'm a minority. It's not a photo I particularly like, but you did communicate the mood to me.

 

[gsgary]

Photos of ****e hawks do nothing for me, i would rather shoot them with a gun they are a pain in the arse