Flotilla + Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted June 14, 2017206 views7 comments

This group of ten goslings were still together with their mum & dad a full month after I had seen them before at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. I saw them heading for the water, and tried to quietly walk there to get a good shot. Unfortunately a couple other visitors also saw them and decided to run cell phone them directly in front of me. I had to work around behind them to get a decent shot or two off before the whole flock simply turned around and climbed back out due to the heavy audience factor on our side. They didn't seem too disturbed by the whole affair, just walked to another part of the park that had a bit more privacy. I saw the whole group again about two weeks later, still together, going strong. Your critique and comments are appreciated. Canon 5D3, f10, 1/250 sec, iso 1600, -0.7 EV, 100-400 ISL at 285 mm, full width, slight overcast, cropped top and bottom to eliminate some unsightly obstructions.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Shirley Freeman on June 14, 2017 at 1:47 PM

Very nice shot of these little guys, and it sounds like you had your work cut out for you to get the shots off, what with the people and their smartphones! I like the low point of view, I think that makes this shot even better. How you were able to get everyone of them with their heads up, and eyes focused is amazing. When you think of ten of anything living and moving, and you get them all with eye contact, and sharp, that is a job well done! I wish the background beyond the greenery was a little cleaner, but hey, I think you did well to get these little guys to cooperate with you, and you even got some reflections! Nicely done, Ed!

Registered on May 27, 2017, 77 Posts, 844 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on June 14, 2017 at 3:40 PM

Hi Ed
I like the low angle and grouping, but it looks like the white balance is off (a tad green)?
Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 14, 2017 at 9:49 PM

A very nice group shot, Ed. Amazingly successful brood thus far. It's neat that you managed eye contact with nearly all of them, and I like the variety of poses.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on June 15, 2017 at 11:37 AM

Really good group shot! Almost all the goslings have good eye contact, and all are tack sharp. f/10 might have been a bit of overkill, but only hindsight on my part. An alternative would be a bit of artificial lens blur added to the top, or a tilt/shift blur of about 10-11 pixels. I don't know what version, or if, you are using PS, but that became available around CS6. Used carefully, it can soften up a harsh background. Finally, there is a definite blue cast, curable by warming about ten percent.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on June 15, 2017 at 5:04 PM

Nice job getting them all in focus, Ed. Nice job getting a look at the eye of every one. There seems a be a green/blue cast to the image. Maybe due to the overcast skies. A slight adjustment ot the white balance may correct it.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on June 16, 2017 at 2:46 PM

Thank you everyone for your comments and help with this. I am not sure if I got this to where it needs to be, but here is a repost slightly blurring the back edge/plants and toning down the greens and blues a bit.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Shirley Freeman on June 16, 2017 at 5:49 PM

It looks much better to me.

Registered on May 27, 2017, 77 Posts, 844 Comments