The Stare !

Photographers Comments
Ok, my apologies if i am a little inconsistant in my feedback etc for a little while. I am currently exploring new techniques after becoming disillusioned with a lot of my work. I hope my involvement will increase as time goes on.

This is one taken at Birdland, in Bourton on the water in the cotswolds. Ive applied a lot of darkening in blend modes and this was created along the path im taking into more darker images.

My photography is also now based more on appeal than technique. I welcome any technical feedback but it is not the main purpoe of my images anymore. Thanks for looking.
I have enabled critique for feedback of any kind though.




Serious Critique Required: The photographer has requested he/she would like a more serious level of critique for this image to obtain more constructive critiscism from other members. Please make sure the comments you leave are indeed constructive and aim to help the photographer see the image from a different perspective and/or provide help and guidance to how the image can be improved.

I like this one, those orange eyes and chest really stand out, the darker areas make it look so much more scary. I also like the idea of not knowing where the edge of the bird is and where the background starts. I will look forward to seeing more work like this from you.

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Nikon User
Beacon Images

Ric, you really need to keep this up, this is an amazing image. Full of impact, darkness and mystery. I really like the way you're heading with this. Those eyes, colour and the darkness is just perfect.

My only crit is that there are a tad too many highlights for my eyes at the bottom of the image, I'd like to have seen a little less there as it's drawing my eyes down just slightly but then that might just be my monitor showing them.

Great image!

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Paul

www.phrphotography.com

Thank you barry, you got my aims for this image spot on !
Paul, dont say things like that, ive just moved to a mac computer instead of pc's which im loving, and ive calibrated the huge 24 inch screen but cant see the highlights ( i can see it bright at the bottom, maybe ive mistaken what you mean, off to try another calibration just to check now LOL).
Thanks both.

If it's my screen that's wrong then I blame James' spyder

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Paul

www.phrphotography.com

LOL, i think i may be taking your comment the wrong way, although even calibrated screens look different depending on brightness luminance settings. I can see it is brighter at the bottom than the top, i will look again. I did it like that as i thought the top of the eyes were more likely to be affected by shadows of the feathers. I wouldnt go anywhere near james's spyder, you dont know where its been LOL.

Hi Ric it a great pic, i think i would have cropt 1''of the bottom. Norman Nikon man.

Hi, great shot, I love this. I agree that the bottom bit could be cropped to simplify the image and draw the eyes up, maybe I would have lightened it slightly to get some more out of the colours or maybe my screen is out too cos I have mr spyder's thingy too! nice work

Ric no to light it, thats the pic dark and colourfull.Norman nikon man.

Enjoyed reading your entro. I love it when people can explain themselves! Did you know that mac's have taken a surge in sales...there must be a reason. I'm going to sit back and digest the critiques from the more experienced but will say that this has APPEAL. I have seen some people that can be so technically perfect but their pictures, just don't do anything. there is a lot to say for appeal. I've seen many photo contests on Facebook where uploads are voted on by peers (the common folk). Often appeal will win over technical. Bravo on this picture; it jumps at me.