Ducklings in formation C&C please :)

Compaq · Jun 26, 2011

1/100th, ISO 400, f/8
EOS 40D, 50mm f/1.8
Elements 9: Crop--> curves --> saturation --> dodge/burn --> unsharp mask
Shot JPEG
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How's the composition? is there too much dead space in the middle? Should everyone be in focus? Boring? There was a fourth duckling in LLC, but I didn't get the whole thing in the frame - so I cropped it out. You can see a bit of the rings made by it.

IMG_8381_edit by Bokehliciousness-ness, on Flickr

Regards,
Compaq

MissCream · Jun 26, 2011

You and your ducks...

NikonME · Jun 26, 2011

As they say.. maybe you should start by first getting all of your ducks in a row.

gina_d · Jun 26, 2011

Hi Compaq,

You questioned if you have too much dead-space in the middle. I'd say yes. This isn't a winning composition. You have three possible subjects spread out over entirety of the photo and none are given any more importance than the other really - well, not by composing it as such. By default the eye goes to the one closest to the viewer, then bounces to the one in the upper left and lastly - the least important one in the upper right. However, none really command as much attention as they should. You need to choose which one you want to showcase and then you can figure out how you want to achieve that. Or if it's all of them, perhaps find a way to do that - which brings me to the next comment...

That this is shot from above doesn't help either. Did you take other shots? Other angles? Perhaps closer to straight on than from above? Maybe focused on one or two of the ducks? Shot from above and at this distance isn't giving much interesting information about the ducks.

Also, the color is very strange - over-saturated. I'm seeing a green splotch on the face of the duck in the foreground.

Cute little guys, aren't they? I'd like to have a look if you had other compositions you tried.

Compaq · Jun 26, 2011

gina_d said:
Hi Compaq,

You questioned if you have too much dead-space in the middle. I'd say yes. This isn't a winning composition. You have three possible subjects spread out over entirety of the photo and none are given any more importance than the other really - well, not by composing it as such. By default the eye goes to the one closest to the viewer, then bounces to the one in the upper left and lastly - the least important one in the upper right. However, none really command as much attention as they should. You need to choose which one you want to showcase and then you can figure out how you want to achieve that. Or if it's all of them, perhaps find a way to do that - which brings me to the next comment...

That this is shot from above doesn't help either. Did you take other shots? Other angles? Perhaps closer to straight on than from above? Maybe focused on one or two of the ducks? Shot from above and at this distance isn't giving much interesting information about the ducks.

Also, the color is very strange - over-saturated. I'm seeing a green splotch on the face of the duck in the foreground.

Cute little guys, aren't they? I'd like to have a look if you had other compositions you tried.

Thanks! I see what you mean, just needed confirmation

I have more shots, few in focus and even fewer from a lower perspective. I was afraid of falling in XD I'll see what I've got, maybe one has potential that I've overlooked. Thanks for good feedback!

MissCream said:
You and your ducks...

Admit it, you love my ducks!

Ron Evers · Jun 26, 2011

Gina posted my thoughts. I am a hunt & peck typist & so do not give responses that need a lot of typing so I am thankful to Gina.

The_Traveler · Jun 26, 2011

Compaq said:
Admit it, you love my ducks!

Actually it is a little worrisome how much you love your ducks. :lol:

joealcantar · Jun 26, 2011

Sometimes you need to focus on just one that is giving you the right angle, look, water movement etc. Take your time and look for the shot. If ducks is all you have keep shooting them till you get what you visualize.
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Shoot well, Joe