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View Full Version : Birds, Need Critiques Please

Mike-Photos
Apr-24-2005, 03:39 PM
Hi There
Getting to grips with my DSLR, my lenses, and my RAW software. So, with three areas where things can go wrong, a bit of advice and critique would help:

http://mikekatz.smugmug.com/photos/20336512-L.jpg




http://mikekatz.smugmug.com/photos/20336610-L.jpg





http://mikekatz.smugmug.com/photos/20336687-L.jpg
jsmason
Apr-24-2005, 04:28 PM
Hi There
Getting to grips with my DSLR, my lenses, and my RAW software. So, with three areas where things can go wrong, a bit of advice and critique would help:
I have to say that I am rather new to a DSLR and RAW software myself. I have had a Nikon D70 and Tamron 28-300 lens for just a few months. Prior to that I used a Nikon E5700, a good camera, but not at the level of a DSLR.

I am very impressed with your photos. The detail is incredible. I would be happy to give constructive feedback if I had something to say that was constructive. All I can say is great job! :thumb

Stan
Mike-Photos
Apr-24-2005, 04:31 PM
Thanks for your flattering comments. I must say I am VERY pleased with my camera (Konica Minolta 7D). Besides anything else, Anti-Shake in the body of the camera means that every lens is stabilised, and it really works, as you can see.
GREAPER
Apr-24-2005, 04:35 PM
Great detail, nice compositions. The eyes are well done.
MuskyDude
Apr-24-2005, 04:35 PM
If your asking on how to improve these I'm sorry, but I don't think you can. IMHO they are about perfect! The details are fantastic! :thumb


AJ
Mike-Photos
Apr-24-2005, 04:42 PM
Thanks.
Mike-Photos
Apr-24-2005, 05:01 PM
If your asking on how to improve these I'm sorry, but I don't think you can. IMHO they are about perfect! The details are fantastic! :thumb


AJ
Thanks for your kind comments.
jthomas
Apr-24-2005, 05:32 PM
Hi There
Getting to grips with my DSLR, my lenses, and my RAW software. So, with three areas where things can go wrong, a bit of advice and critique would help:
I think they're all excellent - very sharp. One minor quibble might be that in the goose shot (#3), the head is a bit soft - looks like you focussed on the body. I think a focus on the head might improve it slightly.
jthomas
Apr-24-2005, 05:39 PM
I have to say that I am rather new to a DSLR and RAW software myself. I have had a Nikon D70 and Tamron 28-300 lens for just a few months. Prior to that I used a Nikon E5700, a good camera, but not at the level of a DSLR.

I am very impressed with your photos. The detail is incredible. I would be happy to give constructive feedback if I had something to say that was constructive. All I can say is great job! :thumb

Stan Stan, looks like we have a lot in common. My progression in digital photography was Nikon CP775 (2002) -> Nikon CP4300 (2003) -> Nikon CP5700 (2004) -> Nikon D70 (2005). My wife says the buck stops here :wink.

I was very frustrated with the 5700. The controls were awkward, the focus inconsistent, manual focus terrible, etc. I did like the compact size and the 8x zoom. I got the D70 on April 4, and haven't picked up the 5700 since!

My wife still uses the 4300, and I continue to be amazed at the quality of the pictures she gets, just using the automatic setting. But nothing compares to the D70, IMHO :1drink.
Phil U.
Apr-24-2005, 07:23 PM
I think they're all excellent - very sharp. One minor quibble might be that in the goose shot (#3), the head is a bit soft - looks like you focussed on the body. I think a focus on the head might improve it slightly.

:agree I especially like #2 - nice lighting & comp. Sharp and nice detail.
Mike-Photos
Apr-25-2005, 06:50 AM
I think they're all excellent - very sharp. One minor quibble might be that in the goose shot (#3), the head is a bit soft - looks like you focussed on the body. I think a focus on the head might improve it slightly.Thanks for commenting. I was trying out the camera's anti-shake when I took this photo, so the speed was 1/30th. Probably there was movement in the head area.

However, I agree I focussed on the body. Although I would generally always focus on the head, is it correct in this case? I thought it would be better to ensure the body, which contains far more detail, has the absolute focus. Also, I wanted to ensure the body was exposed correctly.
Hawkman
Apr-25-2005, 07:30 AM
They are all very nice with nice detail. The last goose eye is not in focus however. One other suggestion: shoot from a lower angle so you are not looking down at the subject, but are at eye level.

Cheers,
Gene
Harryb
Apr-25-2005, 07:54 AM
Hey Mike,

Outstanding :clap The head on the goose is soft as others have indicated. What was your aperture setting for that shot?
Mike-Photos
Apr-25-2005, 08:06 AM
They are all very nice with nice detail. The last goose eye is not in focus however. One other suggestion: shoot from a lower angle so you are not looking down at the subject, but are at eye level.

Cheers,
Gene
Thanks for the useful advice!
Mike-Photos
Apr-25-2005, 08:08 AM
Hey Mike,

Outstanding :clap The head on the goose is soft as others have indicated. What was your aperture setting for that shot?
It was F/4.5 - I was testing the anti-shake on the camera, and the speed was 1/30th, which I think caused the problem because of some head movement.

1/30th isn't bad at all - could hardly ever get anything usable at this speed before.
Harryb
Apr-25-2005, 08:28 AM
It was F/4.5 - I was testing the anti-shake on the camera, and the speed was 1/30th, which I think caused the problem because of some head movement.

1/30th isn't bad at all - could hardly ever get anything usable at this speed before.
Wow, that anti-shake is very effective. 4.5 is a fairly shallow dof. You probably focused on the body and the softness on the head is very likely due to that.