raptors

spiffybeth · May 24, 2008

c/c please!

Overread · May 24, 2008

I really like these shots - the backgrounds are really well blurred and not distracting at all whilst you also keep sharp eye contact with all of the birds. My only major fault that I can see is your depth of field - idealy I find that I want to see a little more of the bird in these shots being in focus - the beak on number 2 is a good example of this. Out of interest what apature were you using for these? I tend to myself keep the camera opened out wide (that means smallest number for largest apature --I hope!) when photographing animals, but I have been finding that at closer ranges a slightly smaller apature (larger f number) can help - there is a button on most DSLRs to show the depth of field of a shot - I have not really mastered understanding how to read what is shows, but it might be an idea to practise with this for when you do have a controled situation to take shots.
Good work!

abraxas · May 24, 2008

nice shots beth. maybe try a vertical format and fill up the frame if the opportunity comes-round again.

BoblyBill · May 24, 2008

I'm assuming that is with you Sigma that you shot these with? The bokeh is awesome. I love how you framed the first one but agree with abraxas about the second and third, vertical would have been better here...

spiffybeth · May 25, 2008

thanks for the kind words everyone!
overread, these were shot at f/4.... ill see later today when i get on my computer if i took a shot that has the beak in focus, too.
and ill see if i have a vertical version of the second and third shots.
thanks for the feedback!

lostprophet · May 25, 2008

I disagree with the portrait format on #3 I like it as it is

awwwww for #2 poor little thing with only one eye

#1 is a bit soft but hey, its wildlife not still life

chris82 · May 25, 2008

I love these shots,The depth of field is bang on,

Chiller · May 25, 2008

Some fine shooting here Spiffychicky. Diggin the Dof on these. As for the portrait/Landscape , I like the third the way it is. The second shot is fine too, except for the beak,but the eye is nice and sharp. It is hard to capture these guys, with the sudden movements they tend to do. I think you did a great job on these.
The third still reminds me of somebody, and I cant place it. :lmao:

abraxas · May 25, 2008

I'm feeling the need to reiterate here. These are fine the way they are. Just saying, next time, maybe.

Heck · May 25, 2008

Where did you take these? Was it like a bird demo or some zoo?

spiffybeth · May 27, 2008

lostprophet said:
I disagree with the portrait format on #3 I like it as it is

awwwww for #2 poor little thing with only one eye

#1 is a bit soft but hey, its wildlife not still life

cheers!

chris82 said:
I love these shots,The depth of field is bang on,

well thanks, chris!

Chiller said:
Some fine shooting here Spiffychicky. Diggin the Dof on these. As for the portrait/Landscape , I like the third the way it is. The second shot is fine too, except for the beak,but the eye is nice and sharp. It is hard to capture these guys, with the sudden movements they tend to do. I think you did a great job on these.
The third still reminds me of somebody, and I cant place it. :lmao:

lol, thanks!

abraxas said:
I'm feeling the need to reiterate here. These are fine the way they are. Just saying, next time, maybe.

no need to reiterate but thanks!

Heck said:
Where did you take these? Was it like a bird demo or some zoo?

im not sure what to call it. these birds were all injured and then nursed back to health, but for various reasons cannot be let back into the wild because of physical problems...cant fly, cant see, etc... so they are kept in cages outside. these were taken in the catskills (frost valley YMCA) when they did a raptor exhibit.