Jolly Good Day

[YoBenny]

OK folks what's wrong with this one?
View attachment 19339

 

[Forkie]

Exposure-wise, it's not bad.

Compositionally, there's still a way to go.

The bird is in an odd position and doesn't appear to be doing anything interesting. Did he have a bath in that bird bath? That's what I would have waited for: spread wings and splashes.

He also blends in perfectly with the background that is exactly the same colour as him. If you'd moved slightly to your right, he would have stood nicely against that blue background.

My biggest tip for shooting birds: The subject alone does not make an interesting photograph. Always try to photograph behaviour. If not behaviour then go for detail and almost always against as uncluttered a background as possible. Birds should be flying, feeding, nesting, mating, bathing, socialising or doing anything other than just standing there unless you are going for a close up. Landings and take-offs make for particularly dramatic shots.

 

[Jaemie]

Not to sound snarky but, What do you think could have improved this photo?

I get the impression you know it could be better (otherwise you wouldn't have phrased the question as you did), and I'm really just trying to get you to think critically, if you haven't already, and present your thoughts prior to having us TPFers expound on the good and bad.

 

[YoBenny]

"doesn't appear to be doing anything interesting"

I thought it was interesting because he is actually walking around the rim while he looks at himself in the reflection.

"Not to sound snarky but, What do you think could have improved this photo?"

Well if he were spinning a hoola hoop around his neck that would be something!

Seriously I have to agree with the background thing he would have looked much more defined if I had moved to the right to get that fence background.
I though the concrete behind him blended so well that it was cool because he is almost invisible standing there in plain site and I thought that was cool.

Also it was early evening and some sunlight from a low angle would have been nice...... I think.........

Also it is just too busy with all the angles even though I placed the bath there deliberately to catch them, they dont work in this at all.

Jaemie I have no idea what I'm doing so I expect it to not be good because I dont know any better yet and I would much rather hear the truth than get a pat on the back and a
"that looks awesome!"

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

We can't see the reflection. Hell, we don't even know there is actually water in there. A good thing to remember is that you shouldn't have to explain to the viewer what is going on in the photo.

Some moments, no matter how cool they seem to be in real time do not translate well to a still photograph. This was one of those times.
Does it mean you shouldn't take the photo? Absolutely not! You can always use the photo to illustrate the story when you tell it to somebody and keep it for a memory.

Photos that support stories and photos that create stories are two entirely different things.

 

[YoBenny]

So then maybe I could have made it story telling by taking it from above that shot as high as it takes to get the reflection he is looking at too? (if that could be done)

Its interesting how you describe a story as either is or isn't. That leaves a lot of space out where most great stories are born - mystery.
It's obvious what he is doing, if you know anything about birds, you just can't see it, or as you say, it isn't.
It's implied, but an implication from a member of nature who has no reason to imply otherwise, pretty much making what you say isn't - IS.

But it's still interesting, I love photos that tell a story, there really isnt a story in this one, just a narcissistic dove admiring himself as he prances around the bath....

 

[Jaemie]

Well if he were spinning a hoola hoop around his neck that would be something!

Seriously I have to agree with the background thing he would have looked much more defined if I had moved to the right to get that fence background.
I though the concrete behind him blended so well that it was cool because he is almost invisible standing there in plain site and I thought that was cool.

Also it was early evening and some sunlight from a low angle would have been nice...... I think.........

Also it is just too busy with all the angles even though I placed the bath there deliberately to catch them, they dont work in this at all.

LOl - a Hula Hoop!

Regarding your other comments, that's pretty much what I think, too. It's not a bad shot, but it could be better, and you already had a good idea of how it could be better.

... I expect it to not be good because I dont know any better yet...

The fact that you already knew how to make this a better photograph kind of negates this comment. And don't expect something to not be good. As long as you're making an effort to improve, expect better and better photos.

...I would much rather hear the truth than get a pat on the back and a
"that looks awesome!"

Hehehe.. Not a lot of pats on the back given on this forum! We rip with glee.

 

[YoBenny]

We rip with glee.

Glee.... don't see that word used much anymore.

I won't trade you the colloquial equivalent round here but it does have something to do with boots and orifices.....

 

[Jaemie]

Here's a tighter crop in which I've tried to separate the dove from the background with limited success:

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

...there really isnt a story in this one, just a narcissistic dove admiring himself as he prances around the bath....

You just told it to me! But the problem is we are missing the elements in the photo that create the story. The water and the actual reflection in the bird bath.

Leaving out key elements to a story does not create mystery. To you, it's obvious because you were there in real time watching this happen.


If the purpose of this photo was to show

a narcissistic dove admiring himself as he prances around the bath

then you already know how to go about capturing a better image

...by taking it from above that shot as high as it takes to get the reflection he is looking at too?​