Paul Swepston  


 Eagle in Flight by Paul Swepston

December 2020 - Eagle in Flight

About the Image(s)

Camera: D850
Exposure: 1/800 sec @ f/9.0
ISO: 140
Focal length: 800
Lens: Sigma 150-600 with 1.4 x teleconverter

Cropped then used a Vignette: Lens filer in Color Efex Pro4 to add a dark frame to the negative space and applied a lighten center filter to his head.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
5 comments posted




 
Paul

This is certainly a challenging image to photograph and a good example of negative space. The composition is well done.

However, the image is soft. Perhaps increasing your shutter speed might have helped.

In this case, the vignetting is a distraction. When I put the image on my screen, because of the solid blue background, I can see the halo of circle lines from the vignette.

I have had this same problem recently creating selections and then putting the subject on a plain background. Thus I specifically checked for it in this image to see if it occured.   Posted: 12/07/2020 09:14:44



Paul Swepston   Paul Swepston
Thank you for your critical remarks. Indeed there were many things that might have made the image sharper: me not being on a rocking boat, me not knowing that an eagle was going to suddenly fly over me, a faster shutter speed, etc. Perhaps it is my shortcoming as a photographer, but when it comes to wildlife, sometimes I have to take what I can get as there are no do-overs or second guessing. As far as the vignetting being a distraction, I was only trying to follow this month's lesson. Since I am locked down at my house, I am somewhat limited in images that have sufficient negative space, so I went with what I had. I apologize if the vignetting is a distraction, I was only playing around with the negative space as a way to frame the eagle. I guess it was unsuccessful.   Posted: 12/07/2020 09:43:24



Timothy Morton   Timothy Morton

Like you said their are no do overs in wild-life photography and find this to be cool, and great captured the bird.

We all in difficult times, and think this image fits the bill as the vignetting for makes the image come alive, but that may be my inexperience in the world of bird photography.
  Posted: 12/09/2020 20:07:46



 
Paul

I am in two other groups: DDG monochrome and DSG competitive images. Check out our DDG 83 monochrome bulletin board where there is a discussion on vignetting.

Last month, I read the rules for nature competitive images where it said one should not use a vignette on a nature image. I hestitated to comment about the vignette because perhaps your intention was not a competitive image or fine art image. Thus, when I looked at your image, I thought about the use of vignettes.

Having sailed for 30 years, the last 11 years off Vancouver Island, I understand your comments about unstable boats. With a sailboat, add the heeling. Perhaps that is why I never pursued photography as a hobby. One needs two hands to sail a boat... even if one hand is used to say cheers.   Posted: 12/13/2020 12:37:57



Barbara Dunn   Barbara Dunn
This photo showcases one of my favorite subjects...eagles in flight. The positioning of the bird is perfect in the frame, with the remaining areas lending negative space for him to fly into. Beautiful detail in the lighting on the underside of the wings and also in the whites of the head and tail. They are such powerful birds, and you were fortunate to see one at the same time that you had your camera ready!   Posted: 12/13/2020 13:50:55