Composition and Form

[Jon]

I am trying to collate some slightly more artistic shots and I would appreciate any comments relating to these images of a Mute Swan. I am not the most creative or imaginative photographer and neither would I claim to be particularly adept with Photoshop, so all comments, favourable or otherwise will be welcome.

They are both from the same RAW file but adjusted and cropped slightly differently.

[RogerTheCat]

Originally Posted by Jon

I prefer the tighter crop of the two. Th exposure is good as you have kept detail in the feathers which is always a problem with pictures of swans.

If you are trying to be creative you could try cropping even more and loose some more of the feathers on the right hand side and the bottom the picture then becomes slightly abstract

[RobSutton]

I also prefer the tighter crop. I would have altered the crop slightly to try and move the eye of the swan onto one of the "rule of thirds" intersections. At the moment the image is very central and very often a slight change in composition can make the image more pleasing.



Cropping so the eye falls onto the upper left intersection would give a slightly more dynamic shot with the bird looking into space to its right.

[Oy]

Nice shot!

I'd brighten it a touch - and add a catch light to the eye

[Jon]

Thanks for the comments everyone, I will try to incorporate your suggestions, though at present I am not sure how to add a catchlight. Jon

[MalcolmX]

if i may add a few comments I always focus on the eye this often will give some light in the eye without flash try for some fill in flash if the camera has this facility . on swans exposure often goes of as the swan is so white so set spot meter on the grass or the bill and lock exposure .
on composition i think a very tight crop to the head would make this better but you need very clear definition on the eye try moving the crop so the head just comes into the frame along the top third line
hope this helps

[glsammy]

I've had a go at some of the suggestions here Jon, I apologise if it's rubbish, the one thing I haven't got is an artistic eye!

[bob hastie]

Hi Jon
I tried much the same thing back in the summer
Tried several different crops and ended up with this one (I had to add a catchlight too)
In the end I had to admit that it just didn't work with my shot.


bob
Bob and Bert's photos

[Bushcraft]

Just spent a couple of minutes playing with your image. Im not happy with the eye, but given some time it could easily be done, although I have to say I think it works without, thats how it was when the picture was taken so thats how it should look

[Jon]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your replies and the time you have taken to produce alternative images. You guys have certainly livened up the image and I like the catch light in the eye. How do you put the catch light in? It would appear that I could have increased the exposure or not reduced the highlight contrast so much in Rawshooter. I have been messing about in Adobe Bridge and in Rawshooter ans I came to the conclusion that the white feathers are more easily controlled in Rawshooter. I used the white balance tool and clicked on the brightest feathers, then I reduced contrast. Is there a logical sequence to follow, in Rawshooter I use the controls in sequential order, in bridge there are no darkness and highlight options, so I start by using auto correct and then reduce exposure, mess with contrast and brightness and then go to Photoshop, make a pig's ear of it and then go back to Rawshooter! I guess the best way is to go to Photoshop and fine tune in there, trouble is there are so many options!
Bob I like your version too, yours is a little brighter yet you have retained detail.
Jon