Out for a Stroll

[mpaul73]

I can't say whether I should scrap this shot or not? That's why I need your feedback. Is it good or not? Is it boring. Pigeons are not exactly inspiring! I think I like the angle and colours and the way the bird is positioned? You decide.

regards
Martin.

http://www.imgmag.org/images/mpaul73/PigeonxStroll.jpg

[SoCal69]

mpaul73 wrote:
Pigeons are not exactly inspiring!

I think your subject is your biggest problem.

[mpaul73]

Yep like I thought, this ones for the trash! lol

Thanks
Martin.

[mpaul73]

here's another one for the trash (probably!) ....although I did like the look from the other pigeon in the background almost as if it was jealous of the other pigeons 'good looks'? !

http://www.imgmag.org/images/mpaul73/TwoxPigeons.jpg


thanks again
Martin.

[SoCal69]

Well, I'm not sure you want to necessarily trash them. They are good photos and there may be a lot of other people out there who like the photos. Ultimately, the point is: do you like it? For me personally pigeons just don't cut it.

[marie]

no way trash it !

that bird is beautiful
its the background which is spoiling it
the colour especially

scrap it (background)
then the beautiful bird shot will be ok
a natural background of some kind would be better
wondering what the original picture is like

I always say 'wondering' and not a question like
'is' or 'what' so one has a choice in not having to answer if they wish.

the shot of the bird is really good
love to see them.
its difficult enough to catch one like it


regards
marie

[mpaul73]

Hi Marie
The background on both is 'natural'. I say 'natural' because the colour has been tweaked slightly in PS but to enhance the blue of the water. But that is all.

I guess I do like the first one really so won't be trashing it after all :)

thanks for your feedback
Martin.

[marie]

oh gosh, two more posts came in here while I was sending mine in , both which I had not seen
exactly at the same time as mine was going
you just sent another shot
and chuck's reply also just came in

I think its the dark blue background 'only' which is spoiling the shots
(I only noticed it was the 'sea' .........now)
otherwise the birds are really really good

beautiful colours
on that neck especially, of the fellow in the foreground in the second picture

best wishes

marie

[marie]

thanks martin
and I see chuck agrees not to trash it !
bet he never thought you would say that either :)
I couldn't get in fast enough to stop you throwing it in the bin.
picturing the scene

:)


at first glance in the first picture
I never for ...a second... thought that was the sea
it was so too blue
all I saw was blue and then the bird.
and both seemed wrong together.

the shots of the birds themselves are really really good
and the way the second fellow is looking at the other,
it could be jealousy alright...




regards
marie

[CDubeau]

Why not keep them?

Both are technically nice pictures. The subject is easy to identify and both in nice sharp focus.

My only question would be, could in the first picture, could the cropping by al little different to see where the pigeon is looking, or just crop the extraneous ground behind it? I do not think it contributes to the picture.

As for the problem of it being a pigeon I think it is nice to see something everyone dismisses with out a second look in a nice photograph. Could I of told you about the depth greys and iridescence of the plumage, brightness of the red in the eye, before looking at these pictures? Probably not.

Some of my favourite pictures so far have been of what would be considered mundane subjects; photography can show people the beauty.

Carl

[SoCal69]

Carl:

I guess I wasn't very clear. It is not the fact that a pigeon is a "mundane subject." Indeed, I have seen some wonderful pictures of mundane subjects which I would not easily dismiss. It is just for me (and perhaps not so much for others) that pigeons are fairly distasteful. No matter how beautiful the picture (and I do agree that these shots are very well done), the subject still overcomes any positives in the photo. I know that not everyone agrees with this, but I also know many that do (which was the inspiration for the original post). Perhaps I jumped in too quickly originally with my own personal tastes. Ultimately, my feelings are irrelevant and the question comes back to Martin as to whether he likes it or not.

[CDubeau]

Sorry Chuck,

I was not in any way trying to refute your critique, many people here, where I live feel the same about seagulls. I was trying to comment on the following:



mpaul73 wrote:
I can't say whether I should scrap this shot or not? Is it boring. Pigeons are not exactly inspiring! -->

I guess we were both answering the same question and giving Martin two different points of view to consider.

Carl

[gandini]

The second image is not well composed and pales in comparison with the first which is truly fantastic.
Trash them if you want, but I'd be keeping the first one on my wall or in my e-gallery. The second one is a keeper, but lower down the ranks IMHO.

Nice colors, great composition, good technique!

cheers

[Leighow]

mpaul73 wrote:
Pigeons are not exactly inspiring! I think I like the

regards
Martin.

http://www.imgmag.org/images/mpaul73/PigeonxStroll.jpg


MARTIN

I like birds, but somewhere, somehow, I have been brain washed to the point where I share your instinctive opinion.

HOWIE

[NetGuySC]

I actually think that the first pic is absolutely great.
I am a baker by trade and do not own a digital camera of more than 1 megabite.

But in my unprofessional opinion that is one of the prettiest pics I have ever seen of a pigeon.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Pigeons may not be inspiring,. but they are a source of humor,. and that first picture has a very humorous tone as well,. to me the two combined means a very possible future for those images. :)

[new girl on the bloc]

i personally like the (first) photo. the red color of the eye and the blue of the water are very compelling. if it were mine i would crop out the greenery in the background and perhaps bring the blue down a few notches. all the rest is very nice! btw - some people like pigeons!

[Jorge]

Pigeons are not very exotic, not rare, and not hard to spot so photographing them may be a challenge. A pigeon portrait with out anything but the pigeon takes a really charming one to be catchy. Perhaps putting more emphasis on the environment/context would reveal the pigeon’s behaviour, specific nature and so on.

[RedShoesGirl]

new girl on the bloc wrote:
i personally like the (first) photo. the red color of the eye and the blue of the water are very compelling. if it were mine i would crop out the greenery in the background and perhaps bring the blue down a few notches. all the rest is very nice! btw - some people like pigeons!

I agree with NewGirl, the blue is WAY overdone, less saturated would be good and crop out the green, it is too distracting.

[SoCal69]

Wow Martin! Who would have expected this level of response over a bunch of pigeons! It must say quite a lot about your photo skills!

Chuck

[mpaul73]

socal69 wrote:
Wow Martin! Who would have expected this level of response over a bunch of pigeons! It must say quite a lot about your photo skills!

Chuck

Chuck
I am quite amazed myself over the responce ...though I prefer to think that the reason is because of everyones love for pigeons!

Regards
Martin.

[boyhowdy]

Martin,

Pigeons are not necessarily a great subject but the pigeon in your first shot is incredible! I like the fact that you off-centered him and he is heading towards the right of the frame which draws your attention to the right, like..."where is he going?" It causes a question to be asked and that is always good photography to me. I agree with redshoesgirl. The blue is way too blue and the greenery in the back should be cropped. I think it detracts from the rest. But, the 1/3 rule was applied well here. The focus of the shot is in the bottom right 1/3 and the downward beak and the position of the feet take you right off the shot and into the imagination.

Sorry guys, with a little cropping and toning down, I think it is a very "telling" and compelling shot composition wise even if it IS a pigeon!!!!

Patrick

[mpaul73]

Ok guys and gals, for those of you who thought the blue was overdone and the greenery at the top was distracting, here is a new version...

http://www.imgmag.org/images/mpaul73/PigeonxStroll2.jpg

Yep I think it is indeed better! Thanks for yer input.

Regards
Martin.

[boyhowdy]

Much better Martin. Now it REALLY brings out the clarity of the pigeon. It's a pigeon for sure, but it is an EXCELLENT shot!!!

Patrick