Karen Botvin  


Watchers Snapping by Karen Botvin

July 2021 - Watchers Snapping

July 2021 - Karen Botvin

Original

About the Image(s)

This image was taken at our local zoo. It’s not an award winning photo, but I found it interesting and storytelling of the folks lined up looking up at the birds while the birds were lined up looking back at the folks! I would put this in the category of street photographing which actually fascinates me and wish I did more. As for the specifics of the image, it was taken with my Nikon Z7 mirrorless with a 24-200mm lens at 66mm. The fstop was 7.1 at 1/320 sec and ISO of 100. The original photo appeared too saturated to me. I converted it to B&W but didn’t have enough separation and it seemed to lose too many details. I then just desaturated the image a bit in PS and the seemed to work more to my liking. I also added a slight vignette in Lightroom. Your comments and feedback are always welcome, especially tips on how this could have been composed or edited differently.


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




Jaqueline Whalen   Jaqueline Whalen
Hey, Karen. This is a fun capture. You immediately get the sense of humor behind the photo. I think I would crop it in fairly tight to just the people and the birds. I would definitely crop the bottom up to the top rail. On the right of the picture I am not sure if you might like to crop all the way in to the person or leave it a bit more open because the second bird on the right is pretty awesome - full front to the camera! Glad you left it in color. I think there are too many mid-tones to make B&W interesting. Nicely done! Go back to the zoo and see what else might be lurking there!   Posted: 07/02/2021 10:30:17
Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Thanks so much for your comments, Jaqueline! I will play around with the crop. I don't want to come up from the bottom too much, because I do like the feel of an onlooker (me) capturing the folks looking up while the birds are looking down. I'm afraid another trip to the zoo will have to wait a few months. The heat & humidity is dreadful here and probably will be into Sept.   Posted: 07/02/2021 10:54:14



Shirley Pohlman   Shirley Pohlman
To me, Karen, this has so much humor. If you were into creativity, you could add a few cameras around the birds necks! Besides the humor, what impresses me are the colors of the shirts that pop so well against the rocks. I like the curve of the railing and the separation of the two groups of people. I love this!   Posted: 07/02/2021 16:06:04



Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Thank you, Shirley! I like the idea of cameras around the birds neck. Lol! Yes, when I turned around and saw them all lined up, I just knew I had to capture it. I'm glad you like it as well. I'll have to think about how to make it more cartoonish!   Posted: 07/02/2021 16:45:03



Bev Caine   Bev Caine
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
For me this is a great example of street photography. Have you considered joining a street photography group? I joined group 80 and find myself looking for every opportunity to shoot. Just wish that my senility would take a break so that I wouldn't forget the camera every time I get into the car.

Well done image and I love the idea of arming the birds with cameras..   Posted: 07/03/2021 15:37:08
Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Thank you so much, Bev. I tried the camera idea but couldn't figure out how or where to put the strap.   Posted: 07/27/2021 16:22:19



Piers Blackett   Piers Blackett
Great story, and well-composed and handled in post. The darker shadows on the right tend to disturb the symmetry so I would use a brush to decrease the shadows with the CR filter. But cropping according according to Jacqueline's suggestion could also be good, however I like the panoramic effect.   Posted: 07/04/2021 19:12:03
Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Thanks, Piers for your observation of the shadows on the right side. I guess my thoughts on that were that there was nothing there of interest or to actually add to the story, therefore could remain in the shadows. I will play around with it and see what I think. Thanks again.   Posted: 07/27/2021 16:25:26



Jim Wulpi   Jim Wulpi
Hi Karen,
I'm betting this was shot at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine. I finally made it there for the first time in early March.
This is a fun image to view. It's not intended to be a fine-art image. Like others have stated, it's more like street art - observing others who are observing the birds. I love it!   Posted: 07/27/2021 15:09:59
Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Thanks so much, Jim! You're right, it's not fine art, I just found it comical to see the birds looking back at those looking at them. This was actually taken at the Jacksonville Zoo. I'm not a big fan of the Alligator Farm, although I did have the photographers' pass for 2 years. This pass allows us photographers access an hour earlier in the morning before the general public and later in the afternoon after it closes. I just find it difficult to get a decent background since the birds are generally in their nests in the trees. It is interesting, however, to watch all the different birds and their courting and nesting behavior. If you come to this part of FL each year, St Augustine has a BirdingFest each April. Some of their workshops take place at the Alligator Farm. Just an FYI. You can Google it for more info.   Posted: 07/27/2021 16:36:25