Is This Photo Interesting to You?

I took this photo of this ring-billed gull today at a local lake. I caught it right as it was splashing out of the water and taking off. But I'm torn on whether I think it's a keeper or not. What I like about it: It gives me "Star Wars X-Wings flying over the water" or "Top Gun" vibes with how the gull is perfectly parallel to the water and even throwing up some water. What I'm not sure about: Obviously the fact that you can't see the birds head (although I kind of think the wing position is cool and makes you look twice at the photo). I can't decide if the duck in the background is a distraction or not.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

P.S. Since neither my camera or lens are on the metadata list, this was shot with the Sony A7RIV and Sony 200-600mm G lens. 1/2000 - f6.3 - ISO2000

Jarvis Creative Studios wrote in post #19197022
I took this photo of this ring-billed gull today at a local lake. I caught it right as it was splashing out of the water and taking off. But I'm torn on whether I think it's a keeper or not. What I like about it: It gives me "Star Wars X-Wings flying over the water" or "Top Gun" vibes with how the gull is perfectly parallel to the water and even throwing up some water. What I'm not sure about: Obviously the fact that you can't see the birds head (although I kind of think the wing position is cool and makes you look twice at the photo). I can't decide if the duck in the background is a distraction or not.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

P.S. Since neither my camera or lens are on the metadata list, this was shot with the Sony A7RIV and Sony 200-600mm G lens. 1/2000 - f6.3 - ISO2000

Hosted photo: posted by Jarvis Creative Studios in
./showthread.php?p=191​97022&i=i191882923
forum: Birds

You're kidding about this being a keeper, right? If it were mine, I'd print it large and have it on a wall. This is a great photo! It took a bit of looking to see the gull was moving to the right. Bravo! And the duck?! Honestly I didn't even notice it until you mentioned it.

You're making photos for you. If I took this, I'd be very happy. I'd like my friends to enjoy this. If some photographers liked it too, that would be okay, but they're really tertiary. Star Wars didn't come to mind, nor did Top Gun. What I saw was an amazing photo of a bird in flight.

Your account name is, "Jarvis Creative Studios". "Creative" means doing something novel with value, as I think is exemplified here. Not everyone will like it. If you like it, then it's a keeper. If you don't like it, then dump it.

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Jarvis Creative Studios wrote in post #19197022
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Is This Photo Interesting to You?
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Hell yeah!

The complex multi-section splash alone is worth the picture. . Then you add in that wing position - at the very apex of its wingbeat cycle - and it compounds the interest.
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Jarvis Creative Studios wrote in post #19197022
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I can't decide if the duck in the background is a distraction or not.
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The cool thing is ..... that you don't have to decide. . You can just have one image with the duck, and another version without it.

It appears to be a male Ruddy Duck in non-breeding plumage. . Which tells me that you most likely did NOT take this photo in April, May, June, or July.

His presence shows the viewer that there were other things going on on that body of water; that the Gull was not the only living creature there ..... which is an informative addition, I think.


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mathogre wrote in post #19197029
You're kidding about this being a keeper, right? If it were mine, I'd print it large and have it on a wall. This is a great photo! It took a bit of looking to see the gull was moving to the right. Bravo! And the duck?! Honestly I didn't even notice it until you mentioned it.

You're making photos for you. If I took this, I'd be very happy. I'd like my friends to enjoy this. If some photographers liked it too, that would be okay, but they're really tertiary. Star Wars didn't come to mind, nor did Top Gun. What I saw was an amazing photo of a bird in flight.

Your account name is, "Jarvis Creative Studios". "Creative" means doing something novel with value, as I think is exemplified here. Not everyone will like it. If you like it, then it's a keeper. If you don't like it, then dump it.

Thanks! I agree I'm making photos for me, however I'm a wedding photographer who has always loved hiking and I've finally decided I'm going to start meshing my hobbies together. This was my first time shooting birds that's weren't in my backyard, so I kind of feel like I'm a beginner once again haha. Thank you again for your input.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19197031
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Hell yeah!

The complex multi-section splash alone is worth the picture. . Then you add in that wing position - at the very apex of its wingbeat cycle - and it compounds the interest.
.
.

.
The cool thing is ..... that you don't have to decide. . You can just have one image with the duck, and another version without it.

It appears to be a male Ruddy Duck in non-breeding plumage. . Which tells me that you most likely did NOT take this photo in April, May, June, or July.

His presence shows the viewer that there were other things going on on that body of water; that the Gull was not the only living creature there ..... which is an informative addition, I think.

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Thank you! You're correct on when the photo did not take place. I actually took it earlier the same day I made the original post. I'm not exactly sure what type of duck was in the background. There was a diversity of ducks at this local lake that I had no idea lived near me. I look forward to becoming more familiar with them. Thank you again.

Here's my one-cents worth (hey, it's tough all over, buddy).<grin>

I think the image has more impact without Donald in the background. The motion of my eyes naturally follow the first, then second splash, and then the gull. BUT (and this is my reaction/opinion/whate​ver) the duck draws my eyes away from the gull. I can almost see the duck as part of that first splash, which is a distraction to my eyes. Seems to be more powerful without Donald in the scene.

On the other hand, if you're looking for an environmental shot showing, well, the environment the duck floating in the background helps that.

For the pure power and motion of the gull...just the gull.

Viscerally, I love it!

Intheswamp wrote in post #19197336
Here's my one-cents worth (hey, it's tough all over, buddy).<grin>

I think the image has more impact without Donald in the background. The motion of my eyes naturally follow the first, then second splash, and then the gull. BUT (and this is my reaction/opinion/whate​ver) the duck draws my eyes away from the gull. I can almost see the duck as part of that first splash, which is a distraction to my eyes. Seems to be more powerful without Donald in the scene.

On the other hand, if you're looking for an environmental shot showing, well, the environment the duck floating in the background helps that.

For the pure power and motion of the gull...just the gull.

Thanks for the input. I go back and forth on the duck. I'll probably just make a version without it, then I can pick whichever strikes my mood in the moment! Thanks again.

greyswan wrote in post #19197655
Viscerally, I love it!

Thank you!

Interesting visual effect. And this is it, to me.