Went out to take some pictures this morning and opps forgot the card in the computer. Oh well, maybe this one from yesterday would work. What I wanted was a picture of high contrast like the ones @northy has posted lately. Processed with Silver efex and the LR. Hope you like the results.
Mentor hat on: I'm a huge admirer of @northy - she's my favourite photographer on 365 - but she's a hard act to follow! Her style is rather special and she chooses subjects sympathetic to her style. This is a nice little bird... but it's a little Joan bird and would be better processed in Joan's style. Mentor hat off!
i'm quite honoured that you feel my style is worth reproducing... i think Richard is right, though, in that your wee bird likely needs a kinder type of editing - here he is looking a tad malevolent ;p did you decrease the clarity slider or increase it?
@vignouse thank you Richard... you know,i never know how to respond to comments like that... they make me quite shy...
This is really striking Joan! Bird photos can be repetitive, but this to me is quite artistic. I disagree with Richard @vignouse in that I think the high contrast turns this bird into something beyond a sweet bird shot. But totally agree that @northy has a style to be admired (and studied!).
Joan, I'm pleased that others have taken the time to pass comment on your processing on this one: it's given you a wider range of opinions and is the reason I chose to comment on-line rather than by mail as I usually do. The great thing is that you have begun the new year in a spirit of experimentation... it's the only way to grow. Well done you.
@northy When you start out trying something new there is a learning curve. I wanted to do this with boats but needed something and this has no background. Mostly I used a silver efex filter and a control point to bring out the eye. And when I can get out again I will try again if you don't mind and I am sure now you don't. Maybe this is the bird equivalent of @graemestevens. Oh no, now I am in trouble.
@vignouse I never mind your saying what you feel any more. I drew in my breath for a moment then I said he's probably right I need to find another subject. But I did kind of like it and when I like something I am stubborn and I have dedicated this year to learning.
I agree with @taffy. For me, the suggestion that you need "kinder editing" for a "wee bird" sounds like advice on how to create a cliche. I like the way you're trying to strike out towards something new with this. And frankly, it's thanks to your fresh treatment that this is the first bird shot on 365 for a long time that I've been inclined to look at carefully. @vignouse@northy
@jasperc@vignouse is my mentor and he likes my normal bird shots in recent months and so I think this shocked him. A little shock is a good thing. Love seeing people move outside their norm and I have dedicated this year to that. And I will always appreciate anyone's comments both pro and con because you can't learn if you don't get both. That said I am so thrilled that you liked my little birdie.
The one thing I meant to mention is the powerful dynamic you created with the diagonal composition, it is this as much as anything that gives the image its energy, I think. @jasperc
Really interesting to read all the comments on this. I love the detail that you've produced with this processing and the composition is fantastic. I think it's a really interesting exercise trying to reproduce the style of another photographer - and much harder than one might first imagine.
oh dear! i'd never want to suggest someone create a cliche!!! you absolutely need to do what you think needs to be done to your shot... and it's always good to experiment with different types of processing... :)
I loved reading everyone's comments here Joan and think it's wonderful that you are pushing yourself. I had @northy 's style in mind with my latest posting and was trying to think how she might have shot and processed it. Even though we get inspiration from someone else's style I don't think it means we want it to look like they did it... I think that's what you achieved with your bird. Well done!
@vignouse thank you Richard... you know,i never know how to respond to comments like that... they make me quite shy...
@joansmor : you are lucky to have the mentor you have!