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In too minds as to which crop I prefer Portrait or Landscape. Help please

D70, TC1.4, 500F4, SB800 + BB
1/500 @ F8, ISO200, Spot, iTTL AutoComp -3EV

kipper,
I like the portrait.

Portrait for me too

Both are so well composed and natural looking it's hard to choose. The portrait is nice because the bird is alertly upright so I guess I'd choose that. Was he watching you?

They were watching a lot of things. Theirs heads dart all over tracking whats going around in their surroundings. There is about 5-8 pairs nested along a dried up river bed and each pair defends it's territory from the other.

Darryl

Landscape for me (bet that helps, NOT). I prefer this because the tree branch leads the eye into the picture from the right to the bird, plus adds a little more visual interest. I won't even mention such technical rules as leading lines and rule of thirds since these are made to be broken. Damn I just mentioned them

Darryl,

Landscape for me as well for exactly the same things that Peter mentioned.

They are both lovely well composed images Darryl. I'm initially drawn to the landscape as Peter mentioned, but I also like the tighter crop offered by the portrait. Frame both and hang the one that appeals most given your mood

cheers
marco

Just to be difficult ... try square.

rokkstar wrote:Darryl,

Landscape for me as well for exactly the same things that Peter mentioned.

Same for me, I like a bit more branch.

landscape
more dramatic, a sense off centre placement of the subject allows it more attention

Landscape for me too, just looks better!

Rog, while others do square crops for photos I hate doing them. I always try and keep them a 3:2 or 2:3 ratio

Besides them both being superb shots I tend to agree with Peter et al on the landscape being the better of the two visually

Yeah go the landscape as the branch has a nice DoF...But both shots are worthy...

Both presentations are great - you must be loving that lens. My vote is with the Portrait although I would crop a little bit off the top. I like the way the portrait presentation compliments the shape of the bird.

Cheers,

Certainly am!!

Went out today and caught some more lovely birds. Saw a Sacred Kingfisher but Kingfishers are on the nervous side. Think I might have to setup a blind to catch it.

nice shot darryl.

Both look well composed but I perfer the landscape crop.

The portrait would be the one you might put on NSN or a bird book showing a bee-eater but the landscape crop lets the bird look into space and has leading lines (branches) so makes it more arty (IMHO)

Steve

as said above.. portrait would be good for somekind of informative book
but as a photograph and as an artwork landscape.

as the branch is in a horizontal position i dont think it looks right
making the photo stand upright

Hey darryl nice to see the bazooka firing! Crop is for each persons choice.
Mad lens!
Jethro

kipper,

IMHO: the portrait is the best shot.

You have a winner of a lens there. Worth every cent.

stubbsy wrote:Darryl

Landscape for me (bet that helps, NOT). I prefer this because the tree branch leads the eye into the picture from the right to the bird, plus adds a little more visual interest. I won't even mention such technical rules as leading lines and rule of thirds since these are made to be broken. Damn I just mentioned them

I agree with Peter........ landscape for me also......... and rules were made to be broken.........

Most times I don't think those taking bird photos adhere to the photography rules (eg. rule of thirds, leading lines etc). It's mostly these rules:

1) Good light
2) Get the bird facing you and have eye contact. Although back shots sometimes are nice to show the plumage on the back of the bird, but eye contact is still important
3) Get a good perch
4) Get the whole of the bird including feet (unless portrait)
5) Get a nice OOF background unless you're aim is to show environment
Don't get cluttered backgrounds or anything with lines going vertical/horizontal.

There are possibly some more that I don't have listed here as I'm still learning and only been at this for 6months now. If it isn't hard enough learning all of the aspects with photographing birds, it gets even harder learning all the various birds and identifying them by call or by seeing them zoom past you. I'm miles off learning them and probably even after 4-5 years I'll still be a noob!

I'd like the portrait best if you cropped a lot off the top.

Superb shot. And landscape

Fantastic photo! Bee eaters are a stunning bird!!
And for me - landscape To me the portrait is slightly too tight, not leaving enough 'breathing space' around the bird. The landscape lends itself to the composition of the shot, and to me is a more pleasing image.
Just my 2 cents worth

Beautiful Birdy Kippy,

The Landscape, the branch ads to it.

Mic.

Hi kipper,

The landscape crop does it for me - I like the branch and the distribution of "space".... very nice shot!

Cheers