Pelican Morning (C&C!)

[shelby16]

This was my FIRST time shooting with a DSLR. I used my Nikon D5100, and I will soon be downloading an EXIF data reader so that I can share that info with you guys because I didn't write it down. But, I shot in Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority for some.
I really want some honest feedback on how I'm starting out, and what I should improve on? How is the lighting, cropping, ect? I think #1 and #3 are the blurriest...I did edit these photos, but not too much. The sky was overcast so I had to brighten the photos up a little bit and I cropped out some of the extra water that wasn't needed.
Anyway, your thoughts are appreciated!!

Thank you so much,
Shelby

CLICK PHOTOS FOR FULL PICTURE!

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6

 

[nmoody]

Great start! Looks like you found a cute couple. I would crop the pictures a little more closer as there is not much interesting in their surroundings. The pelicans look to be a bit bright. Maybe toning down the highlights would help?

#1 might be blurred due to too slow a shutter speed. I don't see any EXIF data in the pictures so I don't know what settings you used. If you are using ViewNX2 it will read the exif data, no need to download a separate tool.

 

[The_Traveler]

which one do you think is the best?
if you could post one picture, which one should it be?
What software do you use to edit your images?

 

[bunny99123]

I think the last one is the best. I would crop it and do some adjustments as mentioned to town down the exposure. I love them.

 

[shelby16]

which one do you think is the best?
if you could post one picture, which one should it be?
What software do you use to edit your images?

Honestly, I agree with bunny! I love the last one, it's the most sharp.
Also, I'm having issues with the Nikon editing software, so I just used pixlr.com!

 

[SCraig]

#1 - Watch your horizon. It's tilted down on the left side.

#2 - Dead centered. Crop it with the bird slightly to the right side (not a lot, put it's head in the center)

#3 - Use landscape mode instead of portrait. Two birds side-by-side are longer than they are high so landscape is preferable. See also 4-6.

#4 - #6 - Crop them with the birds slightly right of center.

When shooting living subjects position them so that they are looking at the center of the image and not out the side of the image.

 

[shelby16]

Thank you so much Scott! Will take this into account. I'm gonna post an edited version of the last bird, so we'll see if I finally get the cropping right.

 

[shelby16]

Okay, how is this for lighting after I toned it down? Also, I cropped it tighter.

 

[SCraig]

I probably would have done it like this:

 

[shelby16]

I probably would have done it like this:

Love this edit! I see how you did the cropping, and I'll start doing this with my animal shots. Did you make it less bright though? I might just not be able to tell. I was trying to make it darker for those who said it was too bright.

 

[SCraig]

Love this edit! I see how you did the cropping, and I'll start doing this with my animal shots. Did you make it less bright though? I might just not be able to tell. I was trying to make it darker for those who said it was too bright.

I darkened it about 1/3 stop, I brought the highlights down some, and I sharpened it quite a bit. I thought about putting the birds on the horizontal center, but I didn't want the expanse of empty water and I kind of liked the reflections.

 

[shelby16]

Love this edit! I see how you did the cropping, and I'll start doing this with my animal shots. Did you make it less bright though? I might just not be able to tell. I was trying to make it darker for those who said it was too bright.

I darkened it about 1/3 stop, I brought the highlights down some, and I sharpened it quite a bit. I thought about putting the birds on the horizontal center, but I didn't want the expanse of empty water and I kind of liked the reflections.

I can tell now. Thank you for the advice!! I appreciate it. This was a fun first time!

 

[SCraig]

You could also do something like this ...

I didn't have enough resolution to do a very good job with it but the original might. If not it's something to consider next time.

 

[shelby16]

You could also do something like this ...

I didn't have enough resolution to do a very good job with it but the original might. If not it's something to consider next time.

Very interesting!! Will try next time I can get these pelicans, they live in the water in my backyard.