Scarlet Robin

Scarlet Robin (Image ID 66147)
Photographed byLisa Brophy on Thu 12th Dec, 2024 and uploaded on same date.
Resolution1800x1586
Viewed516
ID66147
CommentThe Scarlet Robins were prolific at the camp site we had on Kangaroo Island earlier this year. They were also happy to come close to camp. It was early morning so light wasn't great. I have used Topaz Photo AI to Denise and sharpen and LR (not LRC) to bring the brightness of the bird up by adjusting whites and using a mask on the subject. I would appreciate feedback on the crop - I didn't crop much and also the overall photo. I suspect the aperture could have been lower given the light and the lens.
EquipmentOM-1, 100-400 zoom lens. 1/1800, f8.0, ISO 1250
LocationKangaroo Island, South Australia
Keywordsfemale
You already have an outstanding request to download this image for non-commercial purposes. You may cancel this request by clicking on the button below and waiting for confirmation that your request has been noted. When you have selected all the images that you require, go to 'My Download Requests' (under Photo Gallery) and submit your request by clicking 'Edit/Submit' and filling out the details. You will be advised of the result by email. Note that cookies MUST be enabled for this to work.
You may request download of this image for non-commercial purposes. A request that meets the usage rights of this image will be automatically approved; a request that does not meet the usage rights will be refused, but may (at the Download Manager's discretion) be referred to the photographer. The usage rights of this image are: Use by BirdLife Australia, its branches, groups, affiliates and members. For further details of image usage rights, see here. Request the image by clicking on the button below and waiting for confirmation that your request has been noted. When you have selected all the images that you require, go to 'My Download Requests' (under Photo Gallery) and submit your request by clicking 'Edit/Submit' and filling out the details. You will be advised of the result by email. Note that cookies MUST be enabled for this to work.
Ian Wilson2024-12-13 09:50:55Hello Lisa,

A lovely characteristic pose of this species, and as you know, they like to sit on fences, ready to drop down on any unsuspecting insects. You asked for opinions about the crop so I will let you know my preference and why. Remember, this is all to do with personal taste and to some extent on what 'works' for lots of other people.

There is a concept of 'balance' in composition which roughly means that one should try to avoid overpowering elements like the huge fence post in your image. I think you will find that if you reduce the contribution of the fence post, the image will be better balanced. You can do this by cropping off the lower two-thirds of the post. Crop so that the bottom edge of the frame is about level with the rusty nail.

Next we need to consider the position of the bird in the frame. Here is a tip that artists have used for centuries, it is all about perception. If you place the bird lower in the frame, it will appear to be in the foreground, and therefore closer to the camera. This can gives the perception that the bird is larger than in actuality and can provide a more intimate viewing experience. I think this idea works very well for your image, especially as I have already suggested you do this by cropping off a large part of the fence post.

The proportions of the crop can also be important, should it be more square or more rectangular? In most cases but by no means all, the squarish crops don't work as well as more rectangular crops. In your case I think proportions of about 3 wide by 2 high are just right. Position the crop horizontally so that the bird is offset a bit to the left and looking into the space bottom right. Note that if the bird was looking directly at the camera, then it is usually better to position the bird more central, and don't forget about portrait crops when the situation arises. A lot of our members overlook portrait crops even when an image is crying out to be presented as a portrait crop. Portraits are often preferred by publishers for magazine covers and illustrations so keep this in mind if you would like to see your work published.

I hope these tips help you on your bird photography journey. Ian

I hope these ideas are helpful.
Previous297/324 in Critique GalleryNext
Previous16/21 by Lisa BrophyNext
Previous201/225 of Scarlet RobinNext
Previous1283/1477 of Australian RobinsNext
Previous35836/43124 OverallNext
Use the arrows at the left and Right hand side of this page to display the Next/Previous photographs in that group, or click on one of the blue links above to start a slide show in that group (group slide shows are only allowed if there are less than 1000 images in the group).