This is the original shot of the Dunnock resting in the rape field on the flower stem. I put a cropped version of this on here @shepherdmanswife/365/2017-04-19 last week and have decided to enter it into a competition.
The problem is WHICH ONE?
Please could you help me decide.
Thank you all in advance, I do appreciate your comments to help me make this decision.
I would go with the other one. The extra blurred space in this one is a little distracting from the striking bird image and I think the other is more dramatic. But both are very impressive
Great pics. Personally I prefer the closer crop as I feel like it's more "personal" and there's still enough of the field to give context. I find the full version a bit too yellow, which I think distracts from the great pose of the sparrow
Hate to buck the popular opinion. But I would go with this one. I feel it is more artistic, less gaudy. On this website, photos where the subject is large are generally better received. But this shot is more impressive to me than just a pretty bird shot, because it places the bird in this environment and contrast them. Take the bird out of this shot, it would still be pretty. The other shot would be less so.
I would choose this image as well - I like the feeling of space you have created with this original image. I agree with @mbrutus - the bird within the larger environment tells a better story.
Both are excellent shots Chantal but I think personally this one has the edge for me as I like seeing the whole stem of the particular plant the bird is clinging to. I agree it gives more context- tiny bird in a huge field. That said a slightly closer crop could work if the image still remains balanced after doing so! Good luck 😊
I like this more than the other. The blurred foreground in the low part is a little distracting, but seeing the full stem on which the sparrow is hanging is a necessity, IMHO.
Could you create a slight vignette on this one to darken the edges slightly to draw our attention right into the bird and take away the slight distraction of the blurred yellow edges? In the tighter crop the out of focus areas work like a vignette drawing us right into him.
Or another crop with mr bird sat lower down in frame nearer the lower third corner but keeping all the top of the stem? A bit up and a bit in from the right so as keeping the same dimensions but losing some of that blurred yellow at bottom and placing him a bit lower?
OK...how about the best of both fab photos?!? Why not take it down just below the stem that is still visible and remove just a portion of the foreground? I like the best of both photos!
I prefer the cropped version, it tells the same story of the bird in the field, with more detail. Maybe thats just reflecting my "style", as I tend to post frame filling birds. Your little bird is a Dunnock.
I think I like this one, as I like how you have the top of the focused flower in this shot, or maybe a different cropping to include it, as I prefer the Dunnock bigger. Not much help am I. Both great
I much prefer this - buy may be move from 3x2 ratio to 5x7 and remove the bottom? ( look at it in the grid overlay, it might look better just a LITTLE tighter so the bird ( ?? eye) 'sits' on the rule of thirds. same reasons as @newbank , but I would crop from the bottom & left (just a smidge from the left) to keep the open space on the right. just my thoughts :-D
Absolutely lovely picture. Very unusual. Fab yellows and depth of field, and then there's the well -focused little bird. I prefer the closer crop, certainly if it's for a natural history competition, but for a creative competition, then this would do well too! Fave.
I can certainly see why you asked for help! Both are great. I'm no judge, but if I was, I would pick this one. Love all the beautiful blurry flowers to get lost in.
I really like seeing the top of the flower, and I agree with others above about trimming a little on the left and some off the bottom. How about a tiny bit of desaturation of the yellow, and some luminance on the brown so the bird pops a little more within the context? What I do like abut the cropped one is that the bird's eye makes contact with the viewer, and the luminance might do that within this larger context as well.
If you use an 8x10 crop it takes a little off the top and right, more off the left and most of the bottom, you end up with the bird in the golden ratio position.
Wow - hard choice and it does depend on what the contest is all about. I love them both but the first one does showcase the lovely little bird and, most importantly, it has that bit of catch light in his eye that really makes him come to life. Can't wait to see what you decide. Either way your photos are both winners!
Photography is so subjective. Both are great in their own way and I like them both for different reasons. I do think, though, that I'd go with this one, but perhaps crop some off the bottom. I really like seeing the tops of the flowers here, whereas in the other the stem is cut off in the crop. Actually, though, my crops for printed photos also have a lot to do with my print size. Anyway ... I like seeing the tops of the flowers, as well as this beautiful little bird set amidst that gorgeous field of yellow.
I personally prefer the first cropped version as it has less blurred yellow in the foreground, both are wonderful though. Good luck with the competition.
I actually far prefer this one because it gives a context. I find the original crop too tight and it loses the wonderful contrast of one bird among so much yellow. But it is a personal thing, of course!
what is the theme/brief of the competition, does that inform your choice, as both are great pics, just depends where you want to place the emphasis, my personal favourite is the cropped version.
These are both superb and you really can't go wrong. That said, Junko @jyokota shared her version where she followed her advice to see what would happen, and I particularly like the higher crop where the top of the flower shows, and I liked the slight desaturation. I think it would be worth a try since you're submitting.
I like both shots. Both are dreamy and good. I like the cropped version the best. I think it is due to the rules of thirds composition in the cropped version. There seems to be too much yellow foreground in this version. this could be a personal preference though.
I love them both but there is to much blurred foreground here and I find it distracting and the black blob
I s also a distraction. Could you clone it out?
@taffy I agree that yellow is the hardest colour for cameras to reproduce accurately. I had a bird in rape field shot recently, & I selectively desaturated yellow in LR - (possibly could have even gone further than I did) but not sure that is an option in the competition?
Thanks again everyone. Its good to get others opinions and critiques.
I s also a distraction. Could you clone it out?