Show me your eye

<< Previous Next >>
Show me your eye
Photo Information
Copyright: Murali Santhanam (smurali) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 211 W: 14 N: 542] (3138)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Pentax K10D, Sigma 50 -500mm f4/6.3 DG EX APO HSM
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/1250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-15 10:52
Viewed: 266
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Friends,

Want to share something I took a couple of months back. This picture was shot at Mavathur lake. I think it was nesting season and we could see a swarm of Swallows all around. But it was like getting thirsty in the middle of a sea. There were many but not a single Swallow to photograph.

These sensitive birds fly away even before you can think of lifting the camera. This picture was taken against all odds. There was an area full of dried plants and the Swallows were visiting the same place again and again. So I waited for sometime in my car for a Swallow to come and sit on one of the nearby sticks. And sure did it come and sat for a second or two.

I was lucky to get this picture in decent shape considering the short time I had to make this picture. The picture has been cropped by about 25-30%.

The most difficult part of making a picture of the Swallow is to get its dark eyes set in the dark head. Again, I was lucky to get a glint on the eyes due to positioning of the eyes.

Regards,
Murali Santhanam

smitha, gannu, ramthakur, nglen has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To nglen: Asleep?smurali 1 05-23 10:04
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

hi,
this picture looks good on my pda! I share ur view wrt to the circus we have to do to shoot these birds;-).the picture iis good in terms of colors,pov and sharpnes.
tfs
goutham

Hello Murali,
I am happy atleast you could get one model to sit still for a quick shot.:)
This is an excellent capture with immaculate sharpness and details. Very good POV and good natural colours.Nice catchlight in the eye too.
Thanks for the share,
Regards,
Smitha.
Murali, I am still waiting to see the Coot you photographed.:)

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8608)
  • [2008-05-16 6:41]

Hello Murali,
nice shot and good one. Composition is very nice and also nice note too. Ganesh

Red-vented Bulbul is another black-headed bird that poses problems about getting its eyes into the picture, Murali.
Sometimes when you try to lighten the picture at the editing stage to make the eye visible, the other areas in the image get badly affected. I have personally encountered this problem several times.
I can see that you had the same dilemma about the eye of this Swallow you shot despite odds. The glint (catchlight) in the eye, however, has taken care of it. Rest of the bird is very well captured.
TFS
Ram

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-05-21 11:44]
  • [+]

Hi Murail. The wait was worth it to get this picture of the Swallow. The bird looks half asleep. you have captured good detail and colours. with a good DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF