Horned Lark 40%

Gallery: AvianPosted November 23, 2010138 views6 comments

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Place: Scottsdale, AZ
Date: November 13, 2010 3:00 pm
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E 2x), monopod from car window
Exposure: aperture priority matrix metered, ISO 400, 1/640th @ f/11, -2/3rds ev compensation
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, cropped to 40% of frame

This is the same image as my previous post from two days ago, but cropped to 40% of the full frame instead of the 75% of the previous post. I’m posting this not because of the comments on the previous post (I prefer the 75% version), but because of the recent discussion in the bird forum about including crop data with EXIF in the Avian Gallery. I’ve talked about this cropping comparision as well as showing the full frame version on my blog.

Horned Larks are ground-loving birds of open desolate places and do not sit on branches, so sedeing them on a dirt pile is normal.

I'm interested in any feedback or discussion on this version, your preferences between this 40% crop and the prior 75% crop, whether the inclusion of cropping information helps in the critique of either image, or anything else you care to contribute.

Please view the larger version before commenting, if possible. Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 23, 2010 at 8:41 PM

The detail on the breast held up very well considering this is only a 10MP camera and that you discarded 60% of the pixels. Thanks for sharing this experiment.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 24, 2010 at 5:52 AM

I prefer the previous post Richard - I like a bit of habitat, but others often suggest that I should crop mine a little tighter. Both great shots and the detail in this is superb

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 24, 2010 at 9:49 AM

I enjoy both versions Rich, but when I ask myself what I'd have done with the crop with this image I must admit that this one seems slightly tight to me, even though I often tend to lean toward relatively tight crops for emphasis of detail in the bird if the pixels are there. I'd have probably gone about 55-60% on this image.

As to your other question, I think the inclusion of cropping information is extremely helpful in effective and accurate critique when the cropping information is accurate and not estimated. As you've pointed out in your blog so effectively, most of us tend to make those estimates very inaccurately.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 24, 2010 at 12:13 PM

Rich,

Thanks for sharing this second post with 40% of the original frame, I enjoyed your blog post about the different crops and composition you created with this image. Lovely details & sharpness for 40% of the original image, that tells me that the original frame was very sharp and had lots of detail.

For me, I prefer the previous version with 75% of full frame because this version feels slightly tight to me.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on November 24, 2010 at 9:20 PM

I like the habitat and there was already enough great detail in the larger image.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 24, 2010 at 10:56 PM

I prefer the 75% crop, Richard, largely for the included habitat and because the bird feels just a bit crowded in this version. As is usually the case, I would consider the intended use of the image. If it's for artistic presentation, I would definitely go with the 75% version. If it was intended for a brochure or other publication where the images are small, I'd use the 40% crop. A beautiful image regardless.

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