Whip number 2- I think I can still take it!

[gchappel]

The conductor.
The pose and the lighting work for me- plus some luck.
This was shot at Gatorland- anything I could do to make it better?
Thankshttp://gchappel.smugmug.com/photos/140969852-L.jpg

[SloYerRoll]

:thumb great capture! Looks like a phoenix w/ the wings spread like that.
Gatorland FL? Been there once, but too young to really appreciate it.

I like the dof and shutter speed capturing this bird.

Since I'm supposed to critique though..
Try exposing this shot more for the bird to bring out some more white. Even if this causes a few small highlights.

[Gary Glass]

anything I could do to make it better?

No.

Beautiful shot.

[Manfr3d]

The conductor.
The pose and the lighting work for me- plus some luck.
anything I could do to make it better?
Thanks

Yes, you could've made the conductor stand out more
by giving it a bit of light from the right. This way the
dark reflection on the surface of the water woudln't
almost blend in with the wings of the bird.

Otherwise its quite a shot you got there!

[gchappel]

I tend to like my pics a little dark. I tried adding a little light to the conductor- does this look better to your eyes. I am a little mixed with my feelings about the conductor being too white- let me know if this is better in your eyes.
thanks
Gary
http://gchappel.smugmug.com/photos/141434220-L.jpg

[Manfr3d]

I think there isnt much off a difference,
in fact I like the first shot better. I was
more thinking in the direction to lighten up
then dark reflection on the water. I think
your shot is great, and all discussion about
what could be improved is only nitpicking :wink

[binghott]

i usually don't care much for bird shots, but this is wonderful. :thumb

the reflection on the water almost looks fake, it looks like you maybe cloned some of it in photoshop. i'm not sure how i feel about it.

[gchappel]

I did use photoshop to cloan out a little bit of debris in the upper left and lower left- but not much. I agree on bird shots- there are already beautiful well composed shots of what the birds look like- I try to add some artistic ideas either with their body/feather position or their lovely surroundings. As with all shooting it turns out to be about the light- and when the magical light appears we have to be ready.
Shoot more
gchappel

[Mike02]

Awesome shot, only way I can think of improving is if the bird had its full wingspan out :P.

[HarlanBear]

Great shot! As you say, the interesting thing here is the position of the body and the wings. And nice work with the tones of the water. The texture of the water on the upper right may bother some (looks like its been painted), but I like that touch to this image - gives it another texture.

Well done:clap

Guess I should have whipped, but ... too bad.

[gchappel]

Thanks
Actually the upper right is exactly as shot, I had to remove some debris from the upper left- but the wavy blur look is real.
This looked amazing in real life, I am glad I was able to capture a close rendition to what I was seeing.
Gary
gchappel