A bit to much?

[pnodrog]

Usually I try and avoid having to many elements in a photograph but it was such a nice scene so when the birds took off I decided to get a few shots as they flew past. Usually a bit difficult to get a decent composition without doing a fair amount of cloning birds out or moving them. Managed to get to this one with just a bit of cropping. It may be a bit messy but that's nature.

[dubaiphil]

It's not messy at all. Some of these comments may be due to the below par work monitor I'm viewing on:

The sky looks a little oversaturated.

If you wanted to try to tidy things up a little, then maybe cloning out the bird which is cutting the shoreline (4th from right) might help.

The bird on the left balances the image, but if you're up to trying a little trickery, then maybe cutting it and dropping it a little further down from the shoreline might help.

Having said that, I've just suggested some things there that I would not do to an image of mine, but it might give a little more order to what you see as too many elements in the image.

[pnodrog]

It's not messy at all. Some of these comments may be due to the below par work monitor I'm viewing on:

The sky looks a little oversaturated.

If you wanted to try to tidy things up a little, then maybe cloning out the bird which is cutting the shoreline (4th from right) might help.

The bird on the left balances the image, but if you're up to trying a little trickery, then maybe cutting it and dropping it a little further down from the shoreline might help.

Having said that, I've just suggested some things there that I would not do to an image of mine, but it might give a little more order to what you see as too many elements in the image.

The saturation was worrying me as usually the pre-sets I use with Lightroom are fine. It all looked a bit over saturated on my screen but I just assumed the ambient lighting was misleading me. Phil your observations with which I agree have forced me to edit in Photoshop - it's such a tough life doing photography. Thanks for the prod.

[pnodrog]

Anybody else's comment welcome.

[Donald]

I think Phil covered all the key points and the re-work is a huge improvement, in my opinion. The work has turned the picture from a snapshot into an image to stop and look at.

[Cantab]

...The work has turned the picture from a snapshot into an image to stop and look at.

I agree.

L. Paul, what type of bird are they?

[pnodrog]

I agree.

L. Paul, what type of bird are they?

Pied Oystercatcher


I would class the original as more of a grab-shot than a snapshot but in either case there was little time to consider composition other than I crouched down to move the birds higher in the frame. I was walking along a beach full of them and they kept walking away until a dog chased them into the air so as they flew past very low I grabbed shots while I could.

When I put the first photo up I was aware that the highest bird needed exterminating but Phil pointed out that the leading bird was also a bit too high.

Thank you Donald and Bruce for commenting.

[plugsnpixels]

I like the three birds in a row. All other edits have helped the image.

[jeeperman]

Nice job, Paul. The edits helped. Looks like a nice spot to spen a bit of time.

[Digital]

Nice photograph. Bruce

[pnodrog]

I like the three birds in a row. All other edits have helped the image.

Thanks - yes I like the three birds in formation but unfortunately they are a bit more central than I would like. I may shift them.

Nice job, Paul. The edits helped. Looks like a nice spot to spen a bit of time.

Paul the place is called Huia and is about 15 minutes from my daughters place just out of Auckland. The surrounding area has some lovely bush walks but the main attraction is the general store that sells ice-cream, fish and chips and very good coffee.

Nice photograph. Bruce

Thanks Bruce.