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How Wish lists are created


How Wish lists are created
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 106 N: 2659] (7493)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 120-300 F2.8
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): African Raptors, Just Missed Shots. [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-20 12:57
Viewed: 1737
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I said to Gert, when he posted a DD with missing primary tips earlier this week, that we should consider a theme of photographs that “nearly made it”. By this, I mean that these types of pictures, although mostly good, just have a little thing that would knock it out in a composition. When one listens to the judges in Camera Clubs, you do learn some good advice, even though many of them are very subjective. We all are subjective when looking at a picture, & the same picture does not necessarily have the same appeal to two people – just read the comments here on TN. In the camera clubs, members advance through ranks, called star-ratings here in SA. You start at 1-star, & then work your way up to 5-star , masters etc. Now, once you are in the 5-star category, the only thing that really count is the first impression impact & mood – & certain things are “not allowed”. By this I mean cutting off a claw, a wingtip, or the top of the wing, like I did in this picture. And to me, this is how my wish lists are created, but shooting a picture that would be, to me, stunning, had I gotten the whole image in the frame. Now, If only I could get the whole wing in here!
On TN, I often comment on the cropping position & amputating of limbs, wings etc, as well as the composition created. We can not just crop – there is, yes, subjective, a place that is “right” to crop. Look at Philip’s work as an example.
Now this picture was taken at the “wrong” time of the day – meaning that the light suck around midday, strong shadows are the order & contrast is high. When shooting birds, or whatever the subject, I try & get a pleasing composition of the whole bird in the lens. The distance here was about 20m, & he was well spaced in the frame. However, when he lifted his wings in stepping down into the water hole, he suddenly became too big for the frame. I often find that a fix lens gives you this situation, this is why I prefer the zoom. When anticipating the move of your subject, you can zoom out & nail the bigger subject with the wings stretched. & this is how the wishlist picture sometimes become a reality.
Are you game to post some of your near misses once a week or once in two weeks? It can be anything, not just missing limbs, also, exposure, flash, shutter speed, filter problems, anything that can teach us. There are photographers here that shoot with top of the range equipment, like 500 or 600 mm f4 lenses & top of the range camera bodies. I’m sure we would all like to learn something more.
For species info, see HERE
Leace, willie, Fisher, Robbrown, Luc, pompey, milloup, marhowie, jhm, netfalls, red45, svdiesen, JeanMichel, sandpiper2, suleesia has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To sandpiper2: ThanksCallie 1 01-22 08:57
To ornis: Just Missed ThemeCallie 1 01-22 08:50
To netfalls: WSCallie 2 01-21 12:26
To Luc: OldCallie 2 01-21 02:35
To Luc: WSCallie 1 01-20 22:52
To desmo: Cut wingsCallie 1 01-20 13:14
Shooting infoCallie 1 01-20 12:58
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Callie
Excellent timing, nice DOF and sharpness.
I like the point of view, BUT I think that the photo need more contrast.

Nice shot Callie
Great timing

  • Great 
  • desmo Silver Star Critiquer [C: 11 W: 0 N: 6] (4)
  • [2005-01-20 13:09]
  • [+]

good shot but the wings of the bird are cut. :(
well done.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-01-20 13:23]

Excelent note and info, Callie. As photographers we should be able to shoot in what ever condition Mother nature has to offer. We need to compensate for the situation at hand. Sometimes a real chalange, but rewarded if done right.
I see what you mean by having a fixed lens oportunities are lost and gained with a zoom. Both have a time and place, this is what the photographer has to think about. The thinking better be quick or they lose the shot.
Having two cams, one with a fixed and the other with a zoom would be a given choice if he/she could afford it.
I wouldn't complain much about the shot, I find it comical as the bird is stepping and looking at his foot. I could see posibities in cropping the pic.
Well done on this one and TFS the ups and downs in a photographers life. :) :)

Mike

Hi Callie
Good timing , good details.
Wings cut of and very pake.
Nice shot.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3446 W: 144 N: 5883] (17434)
  • [2005-01-20 14:39]

Good theme suggestion Callie. I have heaps of those!
This fellow looks like he's breaking rocks in a prison road gang. Nicely captured - good action shot, even minus the wings.

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 205 W: 4 N: 780] (2762)
  • [2005-01-20 16:00]

Good shot Callie, i know what you mean about nearly shots, i have hundreds.
The wing doesn't matter that much to me, but agree it would be better complete.
Comical shot really, with the bird looking like he is falling off the rock and putting out a foot to stop himself.
Good note, DOF and wing texture.

Mick

Callie, I made a very subjective WS with this photo. By your pictures, but more by your notes I think, I learn a very appropriate knowledge which help me to improve myself and other members here. I like the way you put on the table your knowledge and your know-how. I think you are a teacher, isnt it? If you are not you are still young to become one ;-).
Thanks for sharing pictures and knowledge with us.

Great Idea Callie and wil certainly give this one a go.And I know what you mean by what photo judges look for and comment on.
this image as you say is so close to being superb the space under the feet is a great capture

Great idea for a fun tour-de-world ;-))
Well, you know the wings are clipped, so I shall refrain from commenting uncharitably on that.. ;-) Apart from that you did very well in difficult light conditions by getting that much detail on the parts that are in shadow. It *could* have been great ;-))

Callie, Great capture, "amputation" aside!Thanx for sharing this not-so-perfect photo..This bird thing is new to me. Very frustrating at times. Especially when you're missing body parts!! ;-)) TFS

  • Good 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-01-21 1:30]

I still like. My wish? That you could have captured the missing part of the wing, would have made an excellent pic. And I support your view, the world is not perfect, neither is one person's likes or dislikes.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 660 W: 0 N: 178] (622)
  • [2005-01-21 2:18]

Hallo Callie, deze is iets moeilijker door dat de vogel in beweging is, maar hij blijft wel een mooie foto, de WS is zeker geen verbetering, de vleugel staat er niet volledig op maar doet eingenlijk weinig af van de mooie vogel.
Groeten,
John.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8009] (26813)
  • [2005-01-21 3:53]

I like it after all. Maybe wing is cut off but scene is great. Real action and rocks lightened by strong sun makes good 'desert' or 'african' effect. About cam - my Olympus is really small, I can take it everywhere with me, and its has got good lens - 38-380mm plus macro from 3cm. Of course it isn't top dSLR but works in most situations. Always with me, I can draw it and shot :-)

Die klip was seker baie warm. Like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Very good detail Callie on what is actually a great action shot.
I am prepared to post my near misses, I have thousands of them. Believe me, they help to get better shots next time.

That's a nice one, you just have to clone the wing from your other post. I tried I small WS I hope you'll like it.

I like this idea, Callie. Your post is a good example; it could have been great, as the pose is really striking, but, very differently, both WS solve the situation. IMO, Luc's one is the kind of very tight crop that works often very well. It's a good alternative here. I've opened a theme about this brilliant idea.

Isn't it funny how so many critics on this site comment about the shot and don't read the note. Oh well, I guess this will change as the site builds its numbers.
I think your idea is good, but we need a category to put it in. It may also attract lots of uneducational comments from people in this community who don't speak English.
Nevertheless, its good that you have published a 'nearly' shot; shows that even the pros stuff up occasionally.
I know your probably becoming tired from posting here after a couple of years, but please don't give up. If people like you stop, then we lose. Your work is inspiring, gives us a goal to aim for. Not everyone can afford the high-end camera equipment that you and Jappie etc. have, but we can dream. And beacuse of this we continue to learn and try and improve our own techniques and postings. Cheers, Chris.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-23 15:52]

I have near shots, lots of them as well. What I have more than near shot is lots of not so near shots! I love the note and it is something that all of this site have experienced more than once.

Very well done and thanks for posting.

Interesting idea worth dwelling into. I might just put one up next :)
Excellent effort nevertheless.

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