To Post, Or Not To Post?

[sm4him]

No, this is not a thread questioning the value of posting on TPF.

I'd like opinions on this picture: On Valentine's Day, I took a lunchtime stroll along the river. I ended up getting some pretty cool shots of a heron eating a fish (yes, that WAS a shameless plug for my other thread ), but before that happened, it was looking like THIS was going to be my best shot of the day.

It's just a stupid, obnoxious gull. If I call it a Ring-billed gull, does it sound more interesting than your common ordinary seagull? :lmao:

Anyway...it was coming in for a landing on a metal pole. Do you prefer the first photo, with the pole included, or do you prefer it with the pole cropped out. Or do you just wish I'd quit taking all these pictures of birds?
I think I'll make it a poll, just because I've never done that before. Now...how do I do that?? :lmao:

As usual, C&C on other aspects is also welcome, as are general comments and witty banter.

1.


2.

 

[Josh66]

Cropped looks better to me.

 

[Benco]

The cropped one is more tidy but I like it with the pole, seems to make more sense somehow.

 

[JacaRanda]

I like with the pole and no you can't stop taking the pictures; you are addicted like the rest of us

 

[ratssass]

i like the 2nd best,but bacon beats rock,hammer,and scissors!!

 

[ronlane]

I wanted to select the post AND bacon but since I couldn't, I pick the post. Will you now fix me some bacon?

 

[pgriz]

The pole provides a bit more context for the gull's position and stance. I'd say it's a pretty good shot. Nothing on the bird is clipped, the focus is pretty good, the shadow side isn't blocked up, you've got the distracting background mostly out of focus... Now as an image it doesn't play with my heartstrings, but gull photos rarely do. Now if you put some bacon on a string and anchored it to the post, with the gulls trying to get it away - now that may provoke a smile or two!

 

[shefjr]

With the post!
Do you have a life other than taking pictures of birds? Go make some BACON!!!!

 

[Pallycow]

I just came here for the bacon.


They both are good, for their own reasons. So keep them both.

 

[sm4him]

I wanted to select the post AND bacon but since I couldn't, I pick the post. Will you now fix me some bacon?

I *knew* I should have made it multiple choice...but there were just TOO many options and, as it is Friday night after a long work week, my brain shut down already and couldn't decide what to do.

With the post!
Do you have a life other than taking pictures of birds? Go make some BACON!!!!

Sadly, after creating this poll, I realized...I have no bacon. And I desperately want some now. :lmao:

 

[sm4him]

I just came here for the bacon.


They both are good, for their own reasons. So keep them both.

This is the best option yet...and brings up the question: why do I even *care* which one is "better?"
Oh, right...because I'm a perfectionistic, OCD, nitpicky photographer. :lmao:

Seriously, I think you're right, Pally. I really thought I'd like it better with just the bird, but once I cropped it, I wondered if it didn't lose something without the post there for it to land on.

 

[jackiex_x]

The cropped one is more tidy but I like it with the pole, seems to make more sense somehow.

I agree

 

[Rick50]

I had to go back and read the poll to get the bacon part.
But I like them both for different reasons. Sometimes it just works that way.

 

[KenC]

By all means with the post, so it has somewhere to go. I'm not a big fan of gulls or even gull photos, but that being said, it's really not bad. The only thing I'd do is darken the OOF highlights behind the bird.

 

[sm4him]

It's just a stupid gull, but I'm bumping it anyway just because it's morning and it's still too dark out (AND too cold, and too wet) to go out and stalk birds.