Taking Flight.

[John 2]

I would like to claim that this was a deliberate composition but it is more the result of using a very long lens (150mm-600mm @600mm + 1.4x converter) with manual focus. But I quite liked it when I saw it and so I thought I would try to do something with it and post it for comments. I think they are Sanderlings but I am not sure. Comments/crits welcome.

[Geoff F]

An interesting idea but for me that bird with vertical wings is ruining the whole scene.

[GBO25]

Certainly eye catching and I like the almost monochrome treatment. Of the three birds vertically in the centre I'd try to do something about the blurred beak of the one in the centre because its subject movement has made it a bit too blurred for my taste.

[Shadowman]

Interesting capture, the feathery contrast makes it very difficult to identify, at first glance it looks like flags waving. Nice effort.

[NorthernFocus]

I like the processing and the wing motion. But IMO the bird in center foreground is mucking up the works.

[John 2]

Thanks all for the feedback. I think you have confirmed my own doubts. Interesting thought Dan. Instinctively, there is a temptation to keep what is the sharpest part but in fact that isn't the point of the image. So I think you may be right. I will clone it out and see what it looks like but I fear this is never going to be anything more than an experiment.

[John 2]

Just re posting to try out Dan's suggestion. Makes a surprising (to me) difference. I would be grateful for further feedback. Also takes account of Geoff's comment.

[Rebel]

An interesting idea but for me that bird with vertical wings is ruining the whole scene.

I agree with Geoff on this one.

[John 2]

Thanks Matt. The bird I think Geoff is referring to is the one I have cloned out in the second version which I must admit, I like more.