I love this photo, Vanessa! It looks like they’re just chilling on the beach, watching the huge waves coming in It provides a strong sense of presence. On the technical side, I think there is a lot of unnecessary dead space on the bottom so I would recommend cropping it into a panorama. The vertical photo has even more dead space and less of the dramatic waves so I definitely prefer the horizontal version!
I rather like the vertical with the empty space, but maybe crop a little off the bottom and add some at the top. Also, clone away those spots in the foreground.
A nice moment you’ve captured here Vanessa! The three birds so close together on the beach seemingly relaxed in the face of such powerful looking waves is a fun contrast.
I prefer the stance of the birds in the landscape orientation – the left bird taking a step forward and the two others looking in different directions is more interesting than their stance in the vertical photo to me. I also think a panoramic crop that would work well for the landscape.
Both versions have something going for them. I like the closer view of the Whimbrels in the vertical crop, but I find myself leaning to the landscape because of the way the two birds are looking in both directions. I also like the wave pattern in the top image…more dark green with curves.
Maybe a portrait crop of the top image!
How fun to be at the coast and watch and photo those shorebirds.
Vanessa, I like the horizontal view, it does a great job of showing off the Whimbels and the tumbling surf background and captures the wide open feeling of a quiet beach. That combination really puts me there watching, listening and enjoying.
Thank you, so much, for your feedback and suggestions @Gary_Minish@Ronald_Murphy@mrbphoto@Mark_Muller@Mark_Seaver ! I really appreciate it. It’s funny, I was actually thinking of doing a panoramic crop to begin with and then wasn’t sure if I liked so much of it cut off, I think @Mark_Seaver likes it with the vaster beach view, as I was thinking of that too. But I can also see how it can look like dead space. I cloned out some of the blurred rocks as you mentioned @Ronald_Murphy . Also how do you like the portrait view @Mark_Muller ? I’m afraid it might have cut off too much of the water, but I do like that the birds are more the subject. It’s probably just a matter of taste I guess… Thanks for looking!
@Vanessa_Hill , well, I like the the horizontal pano best. There’s something nice about that big wall of waves against those little birds. Just my opinion! Like you said, a matter of taste…yours!
Nice results with what seems to be a new thing. I can like all of them for different reasons, but one thing bothers me about all of them, and I think it’s what contributes to some indecision about the FG – and that is that the top feels very crowded with those impressive waves. I’m wondering how all would look with just a little more sky added.
I’m enjoying all images very much, but leaning toward the first horizontal. I would certainly consider a head (and reflection) transplant for the first bird, maybe from the last vertical image.
I like Diane’s idea of increasing the canvas on top to give the glorious waves the space they deserve.
Thanks @Diane_Miller and @glennie for your feedback. Here’s the original image of it, I cropped the sky (and also the 4th bird for the challenge! ) because I thought the sky was kind of boring and there was too much of it but maybe I went too far….
I like this even better now!. Adding the sky and the extra bird has certainly taken the image up a notch. I might consider taking a slice off the bottom and perhaps cloning out the OOF rocks. They draw my eye out of the frame.
It provides a strong sense of presence. On the technical side, I think there is a lot of unnecessary dead space on the bottom so I would recommend cropping it into a panorama. The vertical photo has even more dead space and less of the dramatic waves so I definitely prefer the horizontal version!
) because I thought the sky was kind of boring and there was too much of it but maybe I went too far….
