Northern Pintails

Gallery: AvianPosted June 14, 2010176 views13 comments

I believe this is my first multiple bird flight shot post and I'm unsure of some of the compositional and aesthetic factors in this type of image. Since the wing position of the bottom bird is my least favorite of the five I considered cropping it out and rotating to a more level flight. But then I wondered if multiple birds in flight are aesthetically like flowers in a vase - better to have an uneven number if there are relatively few of them...

Larger image provided.

7D, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, tripod, cropped to 61% of original image, reduced exposure in ACR, sharpened birds, no other adjustments/processing, natural light, shot on 3/6/10 at a local refuge

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 14, 2010 at 9:31 PM

Multiple subjects always make things many times more difficult. I'm happy just to get everything sharp, and getting them without overlap is the next level.

I'd be very happy with this and not worry about some hypothetically perfect composition.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 14, 2010 at 10:43 PM

Great to get all 5 nice and sharp Ron. I think this works well and I also think your other idea of cropping and straightening the 4 would work well. I don't have a preference for even or odd numbers of birds in a flight shot.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on June 14, 2010 at 11:16 PM

Hi Ron,
Good job of getting them all in focus. As far as composition, it is what it is and I don't think you have any other options. I don't think it matters whether there is an even or odd number of birds. In my opinion it's a nice image in decent light. Looks like that top center bird might be a tad oversharpened on the wing and back. That bird is different from the others, is it a female or juv.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on June 14, 2010 at 11:56 PM

Ron,

I think when you look at an image with multiples in it you know it's either right or wrong just by looking at it. This looks right to me. There is not too much negative sapce, I actually like the fact that the wings are in different positionswhich gives this image some contrast, the birds are spaced out randomly, it's got all the subjects sharp which is the first order of business on these types, and you have beautiful subjects. The rest is just gravy Ron. Nice first post of a multiple. Like you've suggested to me, I'll keep working on them if you keep working on them.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 15, 2010 at 12:52 AM

I don't know a thing about photographing flocks except that it is very, very hard. I like the shot: the upward angle of all five birds, the different wing positions and the sharpness of all five. Fine work.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on June 15, 2010 at 2:14 AM

Spectacular flight shot, Ron. Very nicely captured wing positions.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 15, 2010 at 2:58 AM

Hi Ron, I like your composition choice as is. Nice job on the sharpness and exposure. I really like group flight shots of this type, although every one is unique.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on June 15, 2010 at 3:34 AM

A fine image indeed Ron, well done getting them all sharp, and my sense of order says odd is good.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on June 15, 2010 at 9:06 AM

Nice one Ron - like your comp. Nice and sharp

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on June 15, 2010 at 10:04 AM

Ron-this is a really nice flight image. The subjects are sharp and the flight formation is perfect. Nicely captured.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on June 15, 2010 at 5:16 PM

Nice job getting them in the frame, sharp and with no overlap! There is a basic design theory that odd numbers feel more balanced (especially with few elements).

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 15, 2010 at 8:35 PM

Cool flight formation, Ron. I've been playing with it on-screen and I think you could go either way with the bottom bird. I wouldn't dream of rotating it to level flight. Part of the appeal of the image is the upward motion inherent in the angle.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on June 17, 2010 at 8:36 PM

Ron,

I think this is a great image, I love how sharp you got all the birds, that is a challenge with so many in the image. I love the differing wing positions, that there is only one female amongst the flock, the light and the comp you used. Very well done.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments