Seattle Seagull

[SlickPixPhotography]

Hello Everyone, I took this photo recently and was wondering what your opinions are on the photo. Please critique. Thanks.

View attachment 5553

 

[JaniceL]

I like this a lot. The background is blurred enough not to be distracting yet you can still tell it is the Seattle skyline. The overcast sky acted as a natural softbox so there is no harsh shadows on the gull. It may be my monitor but the red spot seems a bit saturated to me and would tone it down a bit.

 

[mcsharley]

As a former boat-race shooter, out-of-level water drives me nuts...

--Mark--

 

[JaniceL]

As a former boat-race shooter, out-of-level water drives me nuts...

--Mark--

I noticed that too but then I think the space needle might have a lean if you leveled it. I might be wrong but visually it looks pretty straight.

 

[mcsharley]

By-the-way, it is a really good shot. (now I won't be able to get that Bad Company song out'a my head...)

 

[HoedadKid]

I think I prefer the shot leveled out, myself. Not just to level the water but to balance the gull a bit, as well. He looks as though he is leaning forward a touch.

As far as color, DOF, composition, light, story, etc... I think you nailed it. On my monitor the color looks great. As Janice said, the DOF works very well; blurred just enough. The exposure looks just about perfect. He may be a tad blown out on the shoulder, but with all of that white it's hard to tell. I like the composition. I think you placed the bird well as to frame him with the space needle and skyline.

All around, great image.

 

[Mike-PDX]

Slightly contrary opinion, for what its worth

It looks like the majority opinion is that it's a good shot. I would tend to agree, up to a point. I like the separation of the gull from the skyline, while still leaving the background shapes recognizable. I wasn't bothered by any possible tilt to the horizon.

However, I think it would be helped compositionally if the gull weren't right smack in the center. IMHO, the left hand side - behind the gull - doesn't add much to the photo, so maybe you could try cropping some off the left and see if you think it is better or not.

Just my $.02, of course.

 

[popsphotos]

I think I'd crop that one to portrait, leaving the Needle in the shot and the bird's head at the upper right third.

Looking at the Needle, it is leaning just a bit to the right.

Pops

 

[nannybear]

I agree with the comments of the gull in the middle. I tend to be guilty of that myself and I am working on it. That aside, it is a great shot!

 

[CNelson]

Nice shot....sharp where it needs to be and out of focus where it needs to be. I only wish I could see the bird's feet. No sure why that bothers me but it's not anything you could have controlled anyway.

Chuck