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Takeoff: The Beginning of a Journey
Takeoff: The Beginning of a Journey
Catbird


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: In the Beginning... (Basic Editing III)
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S5100
Location: My backyard, next to the deck, Bettendorf, IA
Date: Mar 28, 2005
Aperture: 8
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Animals, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Mar 28, 2005

 Back after doing well as a model in the Surrealism challenge, this is Spargel, my parrot. It was the first day of real spring weather here in Iowa, so we took advantage of the natural outdoor lighting and set up in the backyard. All of my pictures are done without spending a cent on supplies (I'm in college, trying not to fritter away my money when I don't need to). I draped a blanket over the deck railing, set up my camera on the tripod, positioned myself an armslegnth in front of the camera but out of the frame, stuck my other arm (containing the parrot) in the frame, and began moving that arm up and down. This is Spargel's usual signal that it's time to excercise his wings (a daily part of his routine). The ten second delay wouldn't do for this because he only flutters for a few seconds at a time, so I had to stretch and hit the shutter once he started flapping, which I did. We did several rounds of this.

On the computer, I selected what I thought to be the best of the bunch, cropped it, changed it to b/w, tinkered with the brightness and contrast a smidge, then ran it through Neat Image (first time submitting a photo that I sent through there--we'll see how it does!). After calibrating the size for the guidelines, I submitted it.

I just wonder how many people will notice that there's no way that he could indeed be taking off on a real journey--his wings, if you'll notice, are clipped.

Statistics
Place: 206 out of 300
Avg (all users): 4.6483
Avg (commenters): 4.4000
Avg (participants): 4.4959
Avg (non-participants): 4.7605
Views since voting: 747
Views during voting: 372
Votes: 290
Comments: 12
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
Fujifilm FinePix S5100
 04/07/2005 10:23:38 PM
Thanks for the comments, all. You guys are right. That's prolly the last time I'll convert any Spargel pictures to b/w. He's such a pretty little fellow, and this shot didn't do him a whole lot of justice. I'll try again another day, and put them in color.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Canon EOS-7D
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 04/05/2005 10:05:41 PM
This image is good but somewhat flat. Hahn's? Color may have helped. 5
Canon PowerShot A85
Canon EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM
 04/05/2005 03:18:51 PM
it seems to me more like the parrot were to land.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Fujifilm FinePix S5100
 04/05/2005 08:53:44 AM
subtracted one from your score for being in B&W, parrots and such have beutiful colors why hide them? It looks like the birds is ending his journey, not starting....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z7
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
 04/02/2005 12:53:01 AM
I think this photo could use a bit more contrast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus C-740UZ
 04/01/2005 11:38:55 PM
Interesting shot. Cute thought.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS
 04/01/2005 08:08:39 AM
This one SHOULD be in color!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D90
Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED
 03/31/2005 01:22:18 PM
I think I would rather see this in color.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount
 03/31/2005 12:35:27 PM
Great pic. Love the wing blur. Clever that you managed to get the background totally white. Would colour have added something with a parrot? Maybe not enough "beginning" without the title.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
 03/30/2005 07:25:45 PM
Depth of field is too shallow - the top wing of the parrot is not in focus
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Coolpix 5700
 03/30/2005 01:06:38 PM
very nice capture..why not color??
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM
 03/30/2005 09:44:07 AM
doesn't seem sharp enough
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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