NikonGear'23

Images => Critique => Topic started by: Peter Connan on June 15, 2017, 20:31:11

Title: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on June 15, 2017, 20:31:11
So, what does one do in a case like this?
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Andrea B. on June 15, 2017, 22:14:05
You can either admire the sharpness of your lens and your skill in capturing BiFs
or you can reach for the clone tool.  8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: David H. Hartman on June 15, 2017, 22:31:39
I give up! What's wrong?
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Thomas G on June 15, 2017, 22:40:05
The pursuing duck on the left is throwing ballast to improve it's climb rate and maneuverability 8)
Looks perfectly the right thing to do if in a dog fight.

Very nice nature documentary shot, btw.
Critique? I don't have any.
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Roland Vink on June 15, 2017, 23:48:18
You can either admire the sharpness of your lens and your skill in capturing BiFs
Don't you mean SiF? You can guess what the "S" means ... :)
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: David H. Hartman on June 16, 2017, 00:06:22
The pursuing duck on the left is throwing ballast to improve it's climb rate and maneuverability 8)
Looks perfectly the right thing to do if in a dog fight.

Very nice nature documentary shot, btw.
Critique? I don't have any.

Drop tanks?
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: CS on June 16, 2017, 00:06:46

Nice image.
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Hugh_3170 on June 16, 2017, 00:54:58
Has the left duck got a secret JATO bottle under his tail feathers that is about to ignite?  ;)
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Woodley Willie on June 16, 2017, 04:04:22
You might want to move your name to the other side of the frame...
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on June 16, 2017, 06:03:11
Thanks everyone for the compliments.

The issue is indeed what the bird is issuing. I personally would be fairly affronted if somebody were to share my ablutions on open media, but on the other hand, in nature photography one is not supposed to climb in with the clone tool, and perhaps it adds something to the image anyway?
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Frank Fremerey on June 16, 2017, 09:30:40
You might want to move your name to the other side of the frame...

Intentional sacrifice?
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on June 16, 2017, 13:11:10
Not intentional, and point taken.

When it comes to these things, I am pretty lazy, editing photos and then batch-exporting from LR, rather than making a concious decision about where it should best be...
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: armando_m on June 16, 2017, 14:58:06
I didn't know what was wrong until reading the comments

If you like the image enough cleaning the image will be very easy with PS
it is also doable with LR but the clone tool in LR is a bit idiotic at times and needs additional effort
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on June 17, 2017, 19:15:25
Thanks Armando
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: golunvolo on June 17, 2017, 20:34:45
I will not dump it neither clean it. I think it is perfect timing and good documentary on top of wonderful image.

 I will move the name thou...

Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Akira on June 17, 2017, 20:46:50
This is a fantastic capture.

I see no need of retouching the image.  Cloning should make the surface of the water with slight ripples and reflections of the grasses unnaturally flat.
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on June 19, 2017, 18:05:37
Thanks Golunlovu and Akira
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Viv on July 15, 2017, 11:58:23
For me, it's a great shot.
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on July 15, 2017, 20:39:25
Thanks Viv
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Nikkor Shooter on September 07, 2018, 16:13:52


I got Shovellers at the marsh a few times but I was not so lucky.

Splendid birds… but their bill!  ;)

Is it permitted to post edits suggestions on this forum?




(http://www.kodiakmedia.at/TP18/09/Shoveller1ODP%201.jpg)
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on September 07, 2018, 16:16:32
Of course Nikkor shooter
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Nikkor Shooter on September 07, 2018, 16:28:48
Of course Nikkor shooter

In some places it is taboo… so I prefer to ask! :P
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on September 09, 2018, 15:14:06
Nikkor shooter, would you mind telling me what you have done?

My PP skills are woeful.
Thanks
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Nikkor Shooter on September 09, 2018, 15:29:59
Nikkor shooter, would you mind telling me what you have done? My PP skills are woeful. Thanks

Sure Peter!

I used the "inpainting tool" in Affinity Photo; it is simple, most flexible,
and — in my experience — an improvement over other pixel editors.

Affinity Photo is not a toy but a serious bit of software that has replaced
with upmost satisfaction the Creative Suite apps I was using before.

They have so many tutorials online… just explore them!  :P
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on September 10, 2018, 20:26:45
Thank you Nikkor Shooter
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Patrick Berg-Pedersen on September 15, 2018, 14:41:01
If I’m allowed to be 110% honest;
-I would definitely NOT use this shot.

-Bear in mind that this is entirely my view (and opinion) of the given picture and that this is in fact under the "critique" category.

First of all, I don’t see any excitement in the picture. And in no way does the image "pop", it just doesn’t «stand out».
I don’t like the composition, and I think that it resembles more of a "snapshot" than anything else. Like you just panned with the birds concentrating on focus and to get more of a documentary kind of shot instead of trying to get a more exited shot/composition. It is easy to get "drawn into the moment" and forget about the rest. I remember I did this myself a lot when I started to photograph around 35 years ago. (Without going into further details about that.)

Although I see that the composition is kind of right, you got the air in front and above the birds a little misplaced, why? Because the bottom and the left side of the birds, are in my opinion, ruining the composition you were obviously trying to get. (I’m currently on my iPad watching this, so I can not see as well as on a computer according to sharpness and contrast etc. And if I am allowed Peter, I could do a quick edit/recrop of the given pic on the iPad to show you what I mean???)
I would cut a little behind the last bird and a bit under the birds wings (then cloned out the mirrored wing of the last bird in the water), then the air in front and over the birds would be more distinguished and then again it wouldn’t be so misplaced. The image would instantly come more out as a well composed one.
I would also like more details in the darkest parts of the birds, so I would slide the Shadow slider a bit up and the highlights just a tiny little bit down. Such a pity I can’t see the contrast that well on my iPad, but PERHAPS you’ve done a bit to much contrast on the birds as it’s difficult to see the dark details.(?) OR, have you used both the contrast and clarity at the same time a bit hard? One has to be really careful when using contrast together with clarity, as you know.

About the signature;
I think it’s on the correct side, if you had put it on the right side instead, it would throw the image out of balance.
But, always a «but», ain’t there?..😊  I think, the way the signature stands now, it’s too high up in the picture, but when that is said, I like that you haven’t emphasised it further, the letters are not too bold and not all too large, as I see a lot of people do these days. Because in these days people with camera (read: none photographers, people who think they are photographers just because they can afford a D800 and doesn’t have a darn clue about photography), are so self exposing that they need EVERYONE to know their name. Too bad «Photographer» isn’t a protected title! 😊

I could point out a few more tiny flaws, but I’m not here to slaughter your picture Peter, quite the opposite, to give you some constructive criticism. (And we can really learn a lot from each other this way!🙂)
I believe that’s why the topic are called «Critique»...😉😊☺️

Wishing you a great weekend, Peter!! 😊👍🙋🏻‍♂️

Patrick
Title: Re: Dump it?
Post by: Peter Connan on September 17, 2018, 20:14:25
Please go ahead Patrick