[justanotherdude]

Habitats. by Darrick Snyder, on Flickr

Here's another one. Made it significantly brighter than it was originally after the feed back from today and yesterday.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by onlyabloke

Here's another one. Made it significantly brighter than it was originally after the feed back from today and yesterday.

I looked at it over at Flickr, full-screen, and my eye is pulled to the dark hole in the middle of the frame. Is that what you want us looking at? I think that the tree trunk on the right side is the most interesting thing in the image. I'd move the trunk closer to the center. If you want us to see something in that dark hole, I can't see it.

[dcstep]

There's a contest going on over at:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1270849

"Summer Splash" is the theme, so post 'em up.

[Zing]

It's Flag Day after all.

[justanotherdude]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I looked at it over at Flickr, full-screen, and my eye is pulled to the dark hole in the middle of the frame. Is that what you want us looking at? I think that the tree trunk on the right side is the most interesting thing in the image. I'd move the trunk closer to the center. If you want us to see something in that dark hole, I can't see it.

The dark hole is the main focal point where the eye is supposed to be drawn, and lead to the surrounding area. Rule of thirds on the trunk which is why it's off to the right with the leaves and whatnot of the other tree to the left.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by onlyabloke

The dark hole is the main focal point where the eye is supposed to be drawn, and lead to the surrounding area. Rule of thirds on the trunk which is why it's off to the right with the leaves and whatnot of the other tree to the left.

Okay, then maybe you need to light the ground leading into that hole a little more. Is there a path going into there? If so, lighting up the path a little would make that more apparent, I think.

[jmg]

Another attempt at Astrophotography. Constructive Criticism and pointers wanted!

The Milky Way at Zion, Utah by JMG, on Flickr

Background: taken from my cabin porch. Light was spilling onto the trees from the livingroom.

Equipment:
Canon 6D
35mm f/1.4 @ f/1.6
30 sec exposure
ISO 1250

There are some star trails from the long exposure, so I also tried a f/1.4 15 second exposure at ISO 1600 but the noise was too much for my liking. Is there anything else I could have tried?

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by onlyabloke

lol true. I'll have to take a look at some of my photos on some other screens. They show up fine on my computer and phone, so I won't really know. I do get the sense they are a bit dark, since when I ordered prints - out of the five that I ordered, three were pretty dark.

That tells me that your monitor is too bright. I think that you mentioned that you processed on a laptop. Many laptops have auto-brightness that raises and lowers brightness depending on where you're using the computer. For photo processing, you want that off and you want to work in a medium bright to dark room. Calibrate in the environment that you'll process in and turn off auto-brightness, if you computer has it.

Dave

[allachie9]

Just back home from some time on the West Coast (of Scotland), and visiting some of the small isles.
Here's one taken in fading light at Camusdarrach, showing the isles of Eigg and Rum, with a lone fisherman on the point. A light rain shower just clearing the south end of Eigg.

Fading Light

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by allachie9

Just back home from some time on the West Coast (of Scotland), and visiting some of the small isles.
Here's one taken in fading light at Camusdarrach, showing the isles of Eigg and Rum, with a lone fisherman on the point. A light rain shower just clearing the south end of Eigg.

Welcome back, Alan.

Lovely shot.

[Itsed65]

The Printed Version

Flying History by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[GeorgeR]

A family of Owls seems to have a nest in my neighbors back yard.

[dcstep]

Great owl shot, George.

[Itsed65]

Great shot! I would love to be able to get that close to an owl. I hear them all the time at night, but never see them.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

Great shot! I would love to be able to get that close to an owl. I hear them all the time at night, but never see them.

Exactly. I hear them all the time in my yard and have never seen one.

Very cool shot, George.

[GeorgeR]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Great owl shot, George.

Originally Posted by Itsed65

Great shot! I would love to be able to get that close to an owl. I hear them all the time at night, but never see them.

Originally Posted by M_Six

Exactly. I hear them all the time in my yard and have never seen one.

Very cool shot, George.

Thanks all.

My neighbors have been telling me about their regular visits and suspect there may be some little ones in a nest down the hill behind their backyard. I got a call just before 8:00 PM to come over with my camera. There were two until my dog got out and one flew away.

It was getting dark, especially under the trees, so this was at 6400 ISO equivalent. Hopefully there are babies and they come out to play and I can get a few more shots.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by GeorgeR

Thanks all.

My neighbors have been telling me about their regular visits and suspect there may be some little ones in a nest down the hill behind their backyard. I got a call just before 8:00 PM to come over with my camera. There were two until my dog got out and one flew away.

It was getting dark, especially under the trees, so this was at 6400 ISO equivalent. Hopefully there are babies and they come out to play and I can get a few more shots.

FYI, you can approach owls on the nest with no danger of disrupting the nest. Just stay a safe distance away for yourself (they'll rip you from ear to ear, given a chance). The female is usually on the nest and the male will be within 50-yards. They hunt at night and basically sit on the nest all day. The owlets will start branching (going from branch to branch) for a few days before they fledge. Don't pressure them at this point, because if they end up on the ground a predator, like a coyote or fox, might get them.

Dawn and dusk are the most likely times to see the owlets being fed.

Dave

[Itsed65]

Proud Parents by lennycarl08, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Nice shot of Mom and Dad, but there was no need to make that platform so darn deep. All they need is a surface to put their nest on.

[Itsed65]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Nice shot of Mom and Dad, but there was no need to make that platform so darn deep. All they need is a surface to put their nest on.

I agree. I don't know who put this particular one up, but the companies all over the shipyard try to discourage them from nesting on their cranes.

[dcstep]

This is a juvenile red-winged blackbird, only a few weeks old. They grow fast.

Red-winged Blackbird by David Stephens, on Flickr

[Itsed65]

Super shot Dave. Amazing how different they look as juveniles.