[TheBirdGarden]

I have been digiscoping for about meeeh lets say 2ish years because I also took a year break from it. I would like your honest CONSTRUCTIVE opinions on my photos and maybe offer some techniques on how I could improve. Hope this works and it doesnt crush my hobby

I put my best photos here

http://thebirdgarden.jalbum.net/TheB...oping-Gallery/

I am looking at things such as position, colourings, focus, dof etc.

[TheBirdGarden]

i guess not then

[MSA]

Originally Posted by TheBirdGarden

i guess not then

Maybe having a captive bird as the first to come up was not the best idea if you want a large number of responses, but I expect a few more opinions will come along if you're patient

I'm not much good at editing pictures myself, but I'm OK at looking and criticising, so here goes!

From my own perspective, I liked a lot of the shots, but if you're looking for great pictures I think the backgrounds and cropping need a little attention. In many photos I found them a bit distracting - eg the Tits on top of the feeders could do with the upright knobbly bit being cropped out or removed by cloning (not that I know how to do that!). The out of focus rock in the foreground of the Dunlin also draws the eye to that, and away from the bird itself. With the cropped Woodpigeon head, there's an out of fucus flower right behind the head which is a shame. The Screamer in Pic 1 almost works, but I'd have liked to see the whole of the crest in the frame (assuming you've cropped it out, that is). The black lamb is great, and the thistle head would be if the left side was cropped to remove the out of focus plant.

Please bear in mind that this is just my opinion, and overall I think there's no reason to feel crushed, plenty to be pleased with there!

[fugl]

I think you'd have better luck eliciting criticism if you just posted one or two photos to start with, preferably with specific questions. Having so many is rather overwhelming.

[MINSA]

Originally Posted by TheBirdGarden

i guess not then

I tend to agree on most of what was said. There is no reason to give up a hobby or passion because of someone's opinion.

However you want to know my thoughts of the photos.

I think you have a great gallery full of some wonderful imagery. Fantastic colours, lighting, comp and clarity in next to all of them. As was stated above some minor adjustment on some of the images with the distracting objects but otherwise great!

I am a amateur photographer myself and no where as good, I have a long way to go it seems :). Keep it up!

[TheBirdGarden]

Originally Posted by MSA

Maybe having a captive bird as the first to come up was not the best idea

Have now sorted that ^^

Originally Posted by MSA

I'm not much good at editing pictures myself, but I'm OK at looking and criticising, so here goes!

Same, the most I can do is crop, which i tend to shy away from.

Originally Posted by MSA

From my own perspective, I liked a lot of the shots, but if you're looking for great pictures I think the backgrounds and cropping need a little attention. In many photos I found them a bit distracting - eg the Tits on top of the feeders could do with the upright knobbly bit being cropped out or removed by cloning (not that I know how to do that!).

yeah when i use the clone stamp it ends in disaster, and am not sure with peopel with better monitors will be able to notice the cloning i have done.

Originally Posted by MSA

The out of focus rock in the foreground of the Dunlin also draws the eye to that, and away from the bird itself. With the cropped Woodpigeon head, there's an out of fucus flower right behind the head which is a shame.

Interesting never noticed the foreground rock myself, but agree with the woodpigeon.

Originally Posted by MSA

The Screamer in Pic 1 almost works, but I'd have liked to see the whole of the crest in the frame (assuming you've cropped it out, that is). The black lamb is great, and the thistle head would be if the left side was cropped to remove the out of focus plant.

Nope, was the whole picture, I didn't crop it, and I agree with the thistle.

Thank you for your lengthy criticism. I appreciate it alot, you have my thanks for spending the time to review my photos and have taken everything you have said into account.

[TheBirdGarden]

Originally Posted by fugl

I think you'd have better luck eliciting criticism if you just posted one or two photos to start with, preferably with specific questions. Having so many is rather overwhelming.

I am not looking for people to review each photo one by one, just a general review of my technique

[TheBirdGarden]

Originally Posted by MINSA

I tend to agree on most of what was said. There is no reason to give up a hobby or passion because of someone's opinion.

However you want to know my thoughts of the photos.

I think you have a great gallery full of some wonderful imagery. Fantastic colours, lighting, comp and clarity in next to all of them. As was stated above some minor adjustment on some of the images with the distracting objects but otherwise great!

I am a amateur photographer myself and no where as good, I have a long way to go it seems :). Keep it up!

Thank you aswell, I am going to review the photos MSA said needed some cropping and see if I can crop well enough

[TheBirdGarden]

I have used the clone tool on the coal tit photo where the nobby bit was a distraction.

How noticeable does it look?

edit, also the teasel

[GraemeS]

Originally Posted by TheBirdGarden

I have used the clone tool on the coal tit photo where the nobby bit was a distraction.

How noticeable does it look?

edit, also the teasel

Yep, quite noticeable, I'm afraid, but not bad for a first attempt. Try to use a heal brush rather than only cloning.

I like the photos generally, but what you are tending to do is focus your attention only on the subject without taking full care of the whole image. This means the background is sometimes quite busy. Try to avoid having anything in the background (usually this means twigs) crossing over the subject, especially the head. The sparrow is a good example of this.

This is a really common mistake and just takes a bit of practice to overcome, once you're aware of it. Very small side movements can be enough.

[TheBirdGarden]

such a fiddly process to get rid of one nobby bit of post

Thank you for the background criticism, when I am out on the field I always focus on the subject being in focus, because that is what I want in the end.

edit: would you say the cloning is as bad on the teasel one?

[GraemeS]

Originally Posted by TheBirdGarden

such a fiddly process to get rid of one nobby bit of post

Thank you for the background criticism, when I am out on the field I always focus on the subject being in focus, because that is what I want in the end.

edit: would you say the cloning is as bad on the teasel one?

with practice and because those two edits don't involve anything that crosses the subject, they would take you only a minute to do, really. Fiddly is when you are trying to remove a branch behind the bird's head, but even then many get a routine that takes them a short time. Personally I can't be bothered for more detailed edits, I try hard to get it right in the camera.

The teasel is not really much better, I'm afraid, but you get away with it a bit more because of the darkness. There is still a ghost of the teasel there in a greenish tinge.
But don't be disheartened, it takes some practice. Remember to look at the big picture when cloning things out; it's of zero relevance that you actually replace the object with the background colour, what your aimshould be is to remove the object so the background as a whole is natural.
I find I have to do the clone then walk away. When you come back any mistakes are more obvious to see.

Edit: by the way, the edit is noticeable because the background green tints are roundish in shape generally, whereas at the top left they are stick like.

[TheBirdGarden]

okay thanks for the honest criticism, I guess practice will make perfect

[stevefloyd]

Love the Robin with the frost, I would love to have taken that pic

[mal 69]

My overall impression was the pics were lovely and sharp, like you i mainly crop and dont bother with photoshop, I enjoyed looking at your pictures keep up the good work,what I would like to know is the settings of the camera wether it was a tripod shot or hand held and what camera were you using?

mal69

[TheBirdGarden]

Originally Posted by mal 69

My overall impression was the pics were lovely and sharp, like you i mainly crop and dont bother with photoshop, I enjoyed looking at your pictures keep up the good work,what I would like to know is the settings of the camera wether it was a tripod shot or hand held and what camera were you using?

mal69

I use a Olvion tripod, the rest of my setup can be seen here! the camera I use is very basic but works extremely well with my Celestron. I hope these answer your questions.