PhilC (367) [2006-12-08 17:52] - [workshop] [compare]

Hi Eric, this is a nice shot of a kestrel (possibly lesser kestrel?) but it has suffered from the fact you were leaning out to take the picture. Because of this you have got the horison at an angle and got the distracting ship in the background apparently going uphill. To address this I have posted a workshop in which I have rotated the picture 5 degrees clockwise and cropped it to remove the ship. It has then been resampled to increase the size. I have increased saturation a touch to improve the colour. The focus point seems to be on the wall just in front of the bird so now it is cropped the focus is softer than the original. It might be possible to improve on this if working on the original file. Regards Phil.

PhilC (367) [2006-12-05 18:51] - [workshop] [compare]

Marcin, I can see that this will not be evrybodies cup of tea but I like the unusual perspective on this duck. I think though that I would have tried a tighter crop on the head to make it a bit more abstract because you have a lot of light at the top right which is a bit distracting. I will post a workshop to see how it comes out. I shall be in Poland next week (Wolin Island) so hope to catch up with some ducks myself. Regards Phil. C

PhilC (367) [2006-12-03 9:18] - [workshop] [compare] [+]

Rick, this is a nice frame filling shot of theis little bird but I think that the picture has struggled with the metering because of the snow. I have posted a workshop in which I have increased contrast and saturation a bit and tried to make the bird a bit better defined. Regards Phil.C

PhilC (367) [2006-12-03 9:11]

Gert, a lovely shot of this Marsh Tit. I like the colours and the OOF background sets it off well. The branch gives a good contrast and extra interest to the shot with the lichen on it. The catchlight in the eye is noce as well. TFS Phil. C

PhilC (367) [2006-11-30 18:36] - [workshop] [compare]

Ori,

I like this shot. The velvety colour is fantastic. I like the low POV which I think works well, but I don't like the dead flower to the left nor the dried grass growing up and going behind the right flower. I think I might have been inclined to 'garden' them out or change the angle to lose them which I think would have improved the picture overall. Regards Phil. C

PhilC (367) [2006-11-30 9:25] - [workshop] [compare]

Arunas, a lovely shot. The POV is good as is the OOF background and the lighting. Unfortunately the focus is not quite spot on and because of the shallow depth of field the head and bill are soft. The patterns created by the fungi are lovely. So very nearly perfect, a shame about the focus. TFS. Phil. C

PhilC (367) [2006-11-30 9:21]

Ibrahim, I love the head on pose for this bird, it creates a very unusual POV and gives a nice pattern around the face with the moustacial and eye stripes in harmony like that. The OOF background is good as is the lighting. A lovely shot well done. Phil. C

PhilC (367) [2006-11-29 4:24]

Yves a lovely shot of a grass snake - natrix natrix - I think? They'll give you a nasty bite but are non venomous. All the same it must be a bit disconcerting to get in this close. Regards Phil.

PhilC (367) [2006-11-29 3:49] - [workshop] [compare] [+]

Jean, a lovely capture - well framed with the bird looking at you. I think the colours are a little dull due to the lighting and as has been commented it is slightly out of focus. I have tried to imrpove on that in the workshop attached. Best wishes Phil. C

PhilC (367) [2006-11-29 3:34]

JC a lovely photo, I like these erosion canyons but there is nothing like that around where I am. I think the framing and combination of shadows and light areas works well, combined with the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. My only very slight niggle is the dark spot or pebble centre left at the bottom of the frame which is a bit distracting once you have noticed it. Regards Phil. C