Help me Choose For Contest

[Trish323]

I will be entering a contest at the St. Augustine Rookery.

Here are the 3 I have narrowed down for the bird category.

Which one if any:scratch Would you choose?

1 Roseate Spoonbill
http://fahner.smugmug.com/photos/26786232-L.jpg

2 tricolor heron:
http://fahner.smugmug.com/photos/26786158-L.jpg

3 Cattle Egret
http://fahner.smugmug.com/photos/26784787-L.jpg

[ajgauthier]

I really love all 3!!! If I had to pick, I think the tricolor heron stands out the most to me - I like the way you've framed it, it shows the whole bird, nice foliage background really places it in a habitat (unlike the other 2 which don't really show the surroundings)

Adrienne

I will be entering a contest at the St. Augustine Rookery.

Here are the 3 I have narrowed down for the bird category.

Which one if any:scratch Would you choose?



2 tricolor heron:
http://fahner.smugmug.com/photos/26786158-L.jpg

[Eric&Susan]

:agree #2 The surroundings really give it that little bit extra. Not that any are lacking it just makes it stand out more, to me anyways.



Eric

[behr655]

I'm kinda partial to the Cattle Egrit. Just needs a little crop on the right.
Bear

[GREAPER]

I would go with the spoonbill. The others are nice, but no offense, I find the poses to be common or standard. I think the spoonbill has implied action and is more interesting.

[bochie]

I'd go with the 1st one (with no 3 a close second).

[behr655]

There ya go Trish. With all these responces it should make it easy for you to choose. Good thing you didn't post 6 photos. :D


Bear

[ginger_55]

I saw these last night, was overwhelmed, love them all. So having thought on it, my first reaction was the spoonbill, and it still is.

Could you deepen the pink just a bit?

The second one does show the environment, but the bird is not that much different in color from his surroundings. That hurts the photo, IMO.

I, personally, don't like the crop on the Cow Bird, love those cow birds, but that crop bothers me, personally.

So, I would go with the Spoonbill. I would try to deepen the colors, if possible. I don't know what programs you have available. But try raising just the magenta and/or the red. Wouldn't hurt to look to see what they looks like.

Really good shooting, trish.

ginger ("Here's looking at you", that is what the Spoonbill is saying to me, in addition to being a cool bird on a natural looking perch.)

[Trish323]

Thanks everybody. I appreciate your comments and help. :clap I still have not decided:D But your input has me leaning towards the spoonbill....

[jeff lapoint]

Thanks everybody. I appreciate your comments and help. :clap I still have not decided:D But your input has me leaning towards the spoonbill....
tough call! all are very nice shots, but my favorites are the cattle egret and the spoonbill. the detail in their eyes is fantastic. good luck with the contesthttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

-jeff

[ian408]

You have three very nice shots.

I would submit them in the following order. 1)Cattle Egret 2)Tricolor Heron 3) Spoon bill.
Why? The spoon bill is a little OE on the neck and the shadows on body make the
overall exposure on this a bit rough. The tricolor and the cattle egret are a toss up in
my mind--both are well exposed and good representative shots. The tricolor blends
well and that's what the bird is supposed to do in its natural setting--it's well exposed
given the dark background.

I'm a sucker for the cattle egret. Mostly because of the color and very fine DOF. Look
at the foliage in front of the bird and then the background. Also, I am imediately drawn
into the picture. From the beak to the eyes. The focus is all bird.

That's why I'd submit the cattle egret.

Best of luck to you!

Ian

[Andy]

:eat spoonbill :thumb

[Trish323]

You have three very nice shots.

I would submit them in the following order. 1)Cattle Egret 2)Tricolor Heron 3) Spoon bill.
Why? The spoon bill is a little OE on the neck and the shadows on body make the
overall exposure on this a bit rough. The tricolor and the cattle egret are a toss up in
my mind--both are well exposed and good representative shots. The tricolor blends
well and that's what the bird is supposed to do in its natural setting--it's well exposed
given the dark background.

I'm a sucker for the cattle egret. Mostly because of the color and very fine DOF. Look
at the foliage in front of the bird and then the background. Also, I am imediately drawn
into the picture. From the beak to the eyes. The focus is all bird.

That's why I'd submit the cattle egret.

Best of luck to you!

IanThanks Ian,

I cropped a bit as someone suggested. I am going to submit the cattle egret in the bird category. This was my first choice, and your comments have given me the confidence I needed. I spent big $$ to get the results I achieved for this kind of DOF. here is the cropped version. Again, thank you everyone for helping me....
http://fahner.smugmug.com/photos/26847984-L.jpg

[Trish323]

:eat spoonbill :thumb

Thanks Andy, Any reason why the spoonbill?

[Andy]

Thanks Andy, Any reason why the spoonbill?

yes, they taste better :lol3

ok seriously - the other two are nice portaits, but rather plain - easy prey if you know what i mean - the spoonbill, looks poised to go after something - determination for dinner!

[ian408]

Thanks Ian,

I spent big $$ to get the results I achieved for this kind of DOF.

So what'd ya get?

Ian

[Trish323]

So what'd ya get?

Ian
I got nikon 70-200 / 2.8 VR AF

(Was big $$ for me:rofl )

[Hawkman]

Compositiopn is best in #2 but your cattle Egret, second crop, is nice too. There is too much dead space above the spoobnbill. If you cropped it down some as well, it would be nice.

I'd say #2 followed closely by the Cattle Egret.

Gene

[Trish323]

yes, they taste better :lol3

ok seriously - the other two are nice portaits, but rather plain - easy prey if you know what i mean - the spoonbill, looks poised to go after something - determination for dinner!

I guess it depends on what one is looking for while shooting. I was doing more of portrait shooting rather than action. Everybody seems to always capture birds doing something...I decided to be different... To me they appear as though they are posing, and they are beautiful when they just do nothing but pose.

...And then factor in that I am absolutely lousy at trying to capture any moving thing...:lol4 thanks for the input....roasted spoonbill??? nahhhhhhhh