A friend of mine who knows I have this silly photography addiction called me to tell me about a nest of baby birds on another friend's porch. She called specifically to tell me to go take a picture of them. This happens more and more these days - people telling me "you need to get a picture of..."
So I took a picture of them. They'd hunker down and hide, then mom would swoop in ever so briefly (they're in a nest in a corner of a covered porch) and they'd all pop up - that's when I'd click. I also discovered after a bit that they'd pop up when they heard the shutter, too, but then settle back down kinda sadly, since they were expecting mom, not a camera flash.
Shot in jpeg vice raw since all I have is onboard flash and I needed to use it. Time to investigate the wonders of a "real" flash, I suppose.
Post challenge:
Post processing included levels, curves, hue/sat, and Sharpen several times vice USM - I like Sharpen better for jpeg files for some reason.
A different shot, processed a bit differently:
Statistics
Place: 13 out of 273 Avg (all users): 6.7163 Avg (commenters): 7.7407 Avg (participants): 6.1667 Avg (non-participants): 7.0000 Views since voting: 4375 Views during voting: 486 Votes: 282 Comments: 70 Favorites: 17 (view)
A fine shot, of an otherwise ordinary photo - except that timing was great. All the mouths equally, hungrily opened add balance. not much in the way of color in this particular capture, and not much that is striking to behold. I would have given this a 6, for an above average moment in time captured efficiently. They sure are cute, though!
Deb, I don't think I ever left you a comment on this marvelous shot. I wasn't a member of DPC during this challenge, but I should have noticed it on your profile page. This was so perfect for song lyrics -- they look like they are singing their hearts out. I get a huge smile when I look at these little rascals. Such an appropriate title too.
It is a great capture, Deb- I love it because I love anything - "Nature"- Aside from that , I don't think anyone mentioned that these are barn Swallow babies and they always nest in an enclosed area- garage,porch , barns- hence their name. Great image and thanks for sharing.
Deb, this is an excellent capture but more importantly a very good photo. These little guys are so sharp, and the emotive is great. I think you should be proud to have this on your front page! And look at those 15 favorites. I bow down in awe :-)
Oh goodness this is an amazing shot. It has an almost ludicrous, Loony Tunes-esque quality to it. Amazing that you got a shot when they all had their mouths open.
I missed this shot earlier. Such a wonderful capture! You could put many different titles on this one. Big print or stock potential on this one I would think.
Post Challenge Critique...
Challenge: Beatles Song/Lyrics (Advanced Editing)
Challenge Description: too lazy to cut and paste this :-(
A Score re meeting the challenge
{ 0} Does not meet challenge
{+1} Clearly meets the challenge
**{+2} Epitomises the idea behind the challenge
I know the track so this is right in line with the challenge and the sentiments of the original song.
B Composition & Aesthetics
{ 0} No discernible compositional form or merit
{+1} Snap-shot like composition
**{+2} Well composed, aesthetically pleasing
{+3} An exceptional composition/exceptional aesthetics
It is all in this shot: leading lines, rule of thirds and emotion. There is a narrative to the picture, too.
C Technical Considerations
{ 0} Technically flawed
{+1} Technically OK
**{+2} Technically well executed
{+3} Evidence of technical mastery/wizardry
There is a potential lack of detail in the neck and head area of the chicks that is not helped by the shadow that underpins most of them. Maybe you do need that new flash and the use of something like a LightSphere, a diffuser or maybe just bouncing the flash to soften the shadows. But this is nit-picking as the rest hangs together well.
D WOW Factor
{ 0} Not special/ordinary
{+1} Has some degree of impact
**{+2} Obvious impact
{+3} Slaps you in face
This one really hits home as there is so much character in the picture. Almost a “slap” :-)
Congrats on a PB and another top-20. Sorry to leave it to the last minute
Composition Because the surroundings aren't the most exciting (ie if you'd cropped less you wouldnt have introduced new interest) you needed to fill the frame pretty much, but you've managed to do that without it being too centred and static.
Technical stuff (exposure, dof, lighting etc…) FOcus is brilliant, especially considering the fleeting moment and the borderline shutterspeed. Exposed well for the dark birds and much lighter b/g
Meeting the challenge Without a doubt. Not only does the quote fit the photo, it helps give it extra emotion.
Post-processing Didnt think there was much to say about PP work 'til I looked at the original - you've very mcuh got the full potential out of the photo, much better than I would have done.
Misc I love the earthy tones. The border fits well with these. Awesome timing.
My personal opinion Great entry to the challenge, well-deserving of the score & placement. Well done
First of all, congrats on your best scoring photograph to date. I would encourage you to include your post-processing in the Photographer's Comments along with the great info that you've already included.
Camera Work/Technical: Great, crisp focus and a nice job keeping the entire scene in focus.
Lighting: The lighting is very even. I think I am reading that you used the on camera flash. If that is indeed the case, you did a fine job with it.
Composition/Content: Not bad, but I think that a portrait style crop might have worked better than the landscape. I find myself wanting to see the bottom of the nest.
My Opinion: This is a very nice image and a well-deserved top 15 finish. I think that I would have used a white border and shot it in portrait orientation. I think this one would have broken 7 with those two changes.
Wow, no 1s. That's an accomplishment. That's an amazing capture, and the pure "difficulty" factor garnered you a lot of high votes. Your photography has come a LONG ways recently. The composition here is strong, even though I don't think I would have cropped it quite this way.
Trading post...
A new PB! Great shot too. I love the open beaks. The color is excellent. Except for the bright flash, which you noted, I don't really see anything that could be improved. And you didn't even get a single one! Way to go!
Great picture. :) I really like how they're lined up, facing each side of the frame. Great capture. I like the colour treatment, and the way their mouths pop out of the image (literally too I suppose). Overall the tone seems uniform, and I think a flash head that you could bounce around would really have improved the lighting. Really great overall.
Woo Hoo Deb!!!!! 13th place! 6.71!! I am so not surprised with this fantastic photo! I would have loved to see a ribbon for this one, but happy it finished so strong!!!
Wonderfully funny photo...great capture (and having read your account, great patience too).
I think the lighting is a tad bright and (given the location of the nest) it doesn't permit much shadow. The photo, therefore, appears a bit flat or two dimensional to me, even though it is in a corner. Color is not dominant in this shot, so I wonder if it would do well in B&W.
This obviously is well received. Congrats on the top 20 finish. I didn't vote in this challenge (I don't know where my head was, because I am of the Beatles generation and always enjoyed their music) but I would have voted it relatively high - mostly because of the impact of the subject matter.
Great catch!! My only nit is the vertical edge on the left is a distraction and could have been cropped out (equally on both sides) without negatively impacting the image. 8
Just a slightly closer crop would get rid of the verticle lines leading away from your subject on the extreme left. Awesome photograph! Amazing capture. Top 10 entry in my opinion.
Ohmygoodness! This is the cutest thing I've ever seen. . .and the title is PERFECT! One of the best fits for the challenge I've seen! The clarity of those birds and the rich colors add so much to it too! This is one of my favorites!!!
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