More photo advice needed! featuring Puffin Pictures!

[NicolaB]

Hi guys..sorry to pick your brains again, but I could do with some help choosing some of the best pics from a trip to Skomer..there were so many to choose from!! We run an amateur wildlife photography competition at work, so would like some ideas on which ones you like best, are any of them worthy, how they could have been improved etc.

they were all taken on a Nikon D60 with a Nikkor VR 55-200 lens (new Bigma being ordered next week!!) If you're reading, DaiTheDragon, I'll probably be at the Wetlands centre in a couple of weeks time, so would love a bit of advice on getting to grips with it!

Sorry that there are rather a lot of them...I think I got a bit carried away!

[wildmanofthewoods]

Now competitions are about one judges preference, so i will choose my favourite as if i'm the judge;
Based on the best picture the 4th one down
Technically the 4th one down . Spot on, am i sounding like Simon Cowell

All of them are crackers but for me no' 4 has more appeal and balance,well done.

[Ollie]

Definitely the fourth one down for me Nicola. The bird is the focus of the attention in this one as the background is blurred quite a bit putting the emphasis on the bird.

The others are nice enough shots but the background overwhelms them a little. I'm not picking just my honest opinion.
Roger

[NicolaB]

Thanks both...I think I was leaning towards number 4 as well, I just liked it and couldn't really put my finger on why!

This was another favourite...and definitely would be in the running for a "most silly puffin photo" competition Sadly it's a bit blurry, and I coudn't get my camera to behave with the contrast between sunny day and dark burrow....I still like it though!!

[deer boy]

Some great shots there NicolaB
I like the one in the burrow

[wildmanofthewoods]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Thanks both...I think I was leaning towards number 4 as well, I just liked it and couldn't really put my finger on why!

This was another favourite...and definitely would be in the running for a "most silly puffin photo" competition Sadly it's a bit blurry, and I coudn't get my camera to behave with the contrast between sunny day and dark burrow....I still like it though!!

You may do this already but when dealing with whites in sunlight i tend to underexpose a little this saves the white detail, which if lost can't be brought back. A little tweaking during processing and the shot's are as i want them. That's the theory anyway

[GME]

I agree. Fourth one down stands out but I also like the second to bottom where the bird looks like it it about to take off the rock. Very nice

[VinceS]

For what it is worth I like the next to last photo best, but all of them are good.

vince

[Seajay]

Hi Nicola,
They are all very nice shots. Interesting little birds aren't they.

What about the first one and crop the group on the left to a portrait? A subject of threes is pleasing and it would limit the background a little?

Colin

[HowlinWolf]

Good suggestion, Colin: well seen.

HW