Looking at me?

I like photos where the birds seem like they are looking at the camera.
Some of my efforts below, they look amateurish(they are :P) but please C&C.
Thank you.

Nice series but they all look dark on my monitor

Kevin A wrote in post #15589874
Nice series but they all look dark on my monitor

Thanks Kevin, I can see your photos(amazing btw) as clear as I can see mine on my monitor so I don't know what's wrong.

Kevin A wrote in post #15589874
Nice series but they all look dark on my monitor

same. very nice, but dark-ish.

N.V.M. wrote in post #15591221
same. very nice, but dark-ish.

Thanks for your comment N.V.M., maybe its my Windows8 resolution\brightness(​annoying OS). I will try different contrast\brightness settings on my next post and preview on a CRT if I can find one.

Good sharp images but, as others have said, they look dark to me too. Some work on the shadows/ highlights in PS would fix that

2slo wrote in post #15594224
Good sharp images but, as others have said, they look dark to me too. Some work on the shadows/ highlights in PS would fix that

Thanks Mark, I use DPP, but I noted your advice.

REC,

Looks like you're getting out a lot and putting your gear to good use! It's nice to see a series with several different bird species - nice variety you have there!

Others mentioned the darkness of the images.

Something I am noticing in the images is the background. Sometimes, it's best if a background does not get noticed; meaning that birds can often be shot in such a way so as to blur out the background more completely than what you are currently doing. The most effective way to accomplish this is usually to shoot from a lower position. Try lying on the ground in a prone position, with the camera about a foot above ground level. This will go a long, long ways toward blurring out the background elements more effectively . . . which will result in the bird itself become much more prominent in the image. Of course, there are times when lots of weeds, grass, etc, will make it tough to get a clean shot from down lower, but trying to get as low as possible will generally result in more pleasing imagery.

When you're looking thru the viewfinder, pay as much attention to the background as you do to the bird itself. Try to move around so that you can line the bird up with a nice, clean background that does not have much contrast in it. Pay special attention to the area that is in line with the bird's head and try to keep that as clean as possible.

I agree with Tom.
May I also add that you can fix the darkness issues a good bit by levels adjustment, and lifting the shadows a bit.
Nice photos though, but we all have room for improvement

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15600835
REC,

Looks like you're getting out a lot and putting your gear to good use! It's nice to see a series with several different bird species - nice variety you have there!

Others mentioned the darkness of the images.

Something I am noticing in the images is the background. Sometimes, it's best if a background does not get noticed; meaning that birds can often be shot in such a way so as to blur out the background more completely than what you are currently doing. The most effective way to accomplish this is usually to shoot from a lower position. Try lying on the ground in a prone position, with the camera about a foot above ground level. This will go a long, long ways toward blurring out the background elements more effectively . . . which will result in the bird itself become much more prominent in the image. Of course, there are times when lots of weeds, grass, etc, will make it tough to get a clean shot from down lower, but trying to get as low as possible will generally result in more pleasing imagery.

When you're looking thru the viewfinder, pay as much attention to the background as you do to the bird itself. Try to move around so that you can line the bird up with a nice, clean background that does not have much contrast in it. Pay special attention to the area that is in line with the bird's head and try to keep that as clean as possible.

Thank you Tom,
There are quite a few places around Pune in Maharashtra, India that attract a lot of migratory birds from the Himalayas and north/north east Asia in the winters, lucky for us beginners.
Noted your advice on the shooting position and background.

REC500 wrote in post #15602123
Thank you Tom,
There are quite a few places around Pune in Maharashtra, India that attract a lot of migratory birds from the Himalayas and north/north east Asia in the winters, lucky for us beginners.

You are indeed lucky to have so many birds with such a striking appearance. Are you able to find birds to shoot any time you venture forth with your camera?

dioladetus wrote in post #15600877
I agree with Tom.
May I also add that you can fix the darkness issues a good bit by levels adjustment, and lifting the shadows a bit.
Nice photos though, but we all have room for improvement

Thanks Thomas,
I will play around with different shutter speeds and try more combinations of contrast and brightness in post editing to see if I can get get better results.
By the way, I browsed through your and Tom's websites. I think I have a lot of hard work to do to earn your comments.
Med venlig hilsen, (I used to work for Maersk )
Wanbor

Hi Wanbor,
Haha, thanks for the hilsen
I do not mean contrast and brightness (even though some contrast is a good idea..). Feel free to send me a photo or 2, and I can try and edit then and let you see what I mean
Thanks for the kind words about my website

Tom Reichner wrote in post #15602156
You are indeed lucky to have so many birds with such a striking appearance. Are you able to find birds to shoot any time you venture forth with your camera?

I have to travel up to 100-150km(60-100miles I think) for a proper birding spot with a lake\marshland etc but common birds like black kites, mynahs, small egrets, wagtails, bee eaters etc can be seen with in the town, pigeons are over populated IMO and many of them seem to think that apartment balconies are their toilet. There are days, however, when I go to watch a specific bird and have to come home empty or with out of focus shots only but I guess that's ok, just watching the bird is also fun.