This may turn out to be one of my favorite Red-tailed Hawk flight shots but I’m undecided about its composition.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yes, it’s another shot of the stunning rufous red-tail I’ve been making such a fuss about in recent posts. I took this photo five days ago, soon after she took off from her rocky perch. I like the grand sweep of her wings, the background, her fanned tail and the light on the bird. And she’s sharp. Unlike some of the other flight shots I took of her, this time her head doesn’t have the right wing behind it so her face and eye stand out better.
But I struggled while cropping the image to get the best possible composition. Typically I like to crop images like this to a 5 x 7 aspect ratio, placing the bird in the frame following the classic “rule of thirds”. But this is all the room I had on the left so to keep from centering the bird I had to chop some of the frame off on the right which made the aspect ratio more like 5 x 6.
No big deal but as I fiddle-farted around with composition the somewhat vertical position of her wings made me wonder what a vertical crop might look like. So I tried it.
A vertical crop of the same image has its limitations too, largely because this is all the room I have below the bird. The result is a closer, more detailed look at the hawk in flight but the composition approaches “squarish” which often doesn’t appeal to viewers, including me. And for a bird in flight the hawk might be a little tight in the frame for some tastes.
In short, both versions have their strengths and weaknesses and I just can’t make up my mind which one I prefer. So I’ll borrow from the Beatles and ask for “A Little Help From My Friends”. If you have a preference I’d love to know which it is. And why.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Ron
PS – Providing feedback about preference in the comments obviously isn’t necessary. Some may like both versions, some might not have a preference and others may have more important things to think about…
The horizontal appeals to the scientific side in showing the action of where it is going, the vertical appeals to the artistic/photographer side in that it shows all the majesty of the Hawk. It is just a great photo
Thank you, Thomas.
Vertical. No justification to back it up- it just speaks to me.
Sometimes that’s all it takes. Thanks, Mikal.
I see more drama in the second image – the dark background above the hawk stands out more and to me, the look on the face seems more intense. I can imagine it in hot pursuit of something. So, #2 is my vote.
Thanks for your feedback, Linda.
I do like the first picture better, but the close up of the Hawk is nice to see as well. Fantastic shot. The intense look in the Hawk’s eye is wonderful. Like I said before, beautiful Hawk.
Thanks very much, Jean.
Both versions are stunning but I prefer the 1st because it allows more space for the movement and dynamic nature of the hawk. The second one, while providing more close-up detail, makes the bird feel contained or restricted to me. I would happily hang the 1st one on my wall and enjoy the sense of freedom it conveys for years to come!
Thanks for both your thoughts and your rationale, Julie.
I prefer the first but might try cropping that one so that there is less of the left side (where she is heading) to make it look as if she is on her way out. I dunno. 😀
Thanks, Arwen. Actually, I prefer having that room on the left side to provide her room to fly into.
😀
This is a spectacular individual and I like the vertical crop because she seems so much closer.
I’m glad you like her, Pam. Thanks for providing your opinion.
Thanks to everyone for your valuable feedback on the composition of this image so far.
At this point, for those who have a clearly stated a preference, the “vote” is almost tied with 9 preferring the first crop and 10 preferring the second.
More than your vote I appreciate the explanations of why your preference is what it is.
No need to choose, as an artist you have that “poetic license” to offer clients both options portrait and landscape for their pleasure if you choose to sell it. If you are just making this a part of your collection then “to thine own self…”. As for me, I am always a sucker for landscape views, mirroring the scale of the panorama (cue the orchestra). My 2c.
Ron, in this case I’m asking for help in figuring out what my “own self” actually is. Feedback from viewers sometimes helps me sharpen my focus on what might be important and grow as a photographer and artist. It’s almost like being in a classroom. That’s why I asked the “why” part of my question.
I think they are both beautiful and the second is my favorite because the bird is so much closer. I’m old and don’t see as well as I used to so I appreciate anything that shows me something I don’t have a chance to see in the wild. Love your art.
Thanks, Betty. I understand that “old and don’t see well” part…
Ron, I’ll admit that I’ve read others comments before posting mine, but I’ve pretty much come back to my initial thoughts. Both of these are “picture perfect”. However, I like the first one because it gives the red-tailed hawk a sense of motion. The second photo seems more like a portrait and has more intensity.
Thanks for this magnificent posting, Ron
Sounds like you’re on the wall, Alice. I know the feeling.
Vertical crop is fantastic!!
It gets the viewer closer to the subject yet does not
Sacrifice the hawk
Thanks for your feedback, Linda.
I prefer the vertical crop and the closer look at this beautiful hawk. Both pics are awesome though. Nice work!!
Thank you, Brad.
I’m always happy to be opinionated…er…help out with my opinion.😂😉 I like both crops (aren’t I helpful?). More often than not, I like to see context, so having more background would be my choice. However, this subject is so striking that I feel like she deserves to be in the spotlight, so second crop, it is! Having her left wing so close to the right edge of the image adds to the sense of dynamic motion for me. Plus, that border keeps forcing my eye back onto the bird. I can feel her taking off into the shot. The second image conveys an excitement that the first does not, even though I do like the first crop. There’s still enough visual interest and “texture” in the background of the second crop to allow her to pop a bit. There’s also something about diagonal birds and vertical crops that I like very much. Definitely wall worthy!
I’m still trying to figure out which one you like best, Marty. I think the second one… 🙂
And I agree with your point about “diagonal birds and vertical crops”. Thank you.
I second what Mr. Harlow said. My personal preference is for photos which show the animal and the environment. The hawk itself shows beautiful detail in every regard.
Thank you, Martha.
Totally agree with Dick Harlow! To me, the gorgeous hawk looks 3D in the 2nd shot. (I’ve been following your blog for several years, & not made a comment…but this hawk ‘moved” me!)
I’m glad you were “moved”, Barbara. And I appreciate your comment.
OK, usually I read all comments before I comment, but for this one I didn’t want to be influenced by anything but the 2 images. Understand this is not critical just my own likes and dislikes.
The image of the hawk is absolute, but the background is another story. In the first image there is too much background that in my opinion takes the viewers eye away from the bird. Obviously than I feel the second image has better composition for my eye. My bias is what do I want to see in the photograph. If it is just the hawk and not its environment, then the second image. If I want to see an environmental shot showing what the hawk is living with or seeing around it, then neither image would suit me. It boils down to what the individual likes about the shot. To me the second shot I would increase the size of it and hang it on the wall!!
Phenomenal shot!
Thanks, Dick.
I’m curious, if you read the other comments after posting yours did reading them have any influence on your opinion?
I’m sorry Ron, I read them all, and still feel the same way. However, I might have liked the first one better if there was more of the environment showing, e.g. foreground rather than blurred background. What can I say, I prefer to see environment on bird or wildlife shots. I have to admit your background, in my laymen mind) is artsy and I can deal with that, but exceptional sharpness of the hawk makes it a home run!!
Don’t be sorry, Dick. I wasn’t trying to convince you one way or the other. I was just wondering if the comments of others swayed you one way or another like they do me at times. And based on your first sentence in your first comment it apparently sometimes happens to you too…
True!
Before I read what everyone else’s opinions, buy bias is toward the first: landscape view. This majestic red-tail has more room to fly in, the image provides a better feeling of spaciousness (the grandness of the “wild”), and I like the position of the bird in the frame. In the portrait version, just seems to me the bird is too tight in the frame and does not provide “feeling” of the landscape version. To me, the 2nd is more of a technical depiction of a red-tail hawk. Nothing wrong there, but just depends on what you are trying to convey.
That’s my $.02 and that’s about all its worth. Great capture Ron, and which ever version tickles your fancy is the right one.
I appreciate your well though out comment and you made some excellent points, Frank.
Ron,
Both pictures make me impatient for the new lens to arrive (“no delivery date from the manufacturer”). Your images are always so sharp. The bird is just beautiful. The more I follow your blog, take pictures myself and just watch the birds in my back yard the more beautiful they all become, but clearly this is a gorgeous bird. Both images have their advantage. The first with the classic “room to fly” but the second with “more bird.”
I’ll vote for the second as a “wall-hanger” and the first for a composition contest.
Love it!
Stephen
“I’ll vote for the second as a “wall-hanger” and the first for a composition contest”
I agree, Stephen – preferred composition can definitely depend on your purpose for the image.
I fully understand your angst and impatience while waiting for a new lens!
I’ll gladly take both presentations and thanks very much for serving them up this morning. I do like the first shot the best as it provides a nice scale in setting, with room to fly and more. But I love having the follow up with the second shot taking us closer, the one-two punch really satisfies.
“the one-two punch really satisfies”
Thanks, Dave. Maybe there’s some value to viewers, photographers especially, in seeing both versions just to make us think about composition.
Beautiful photo Ron so neither choice is bad. I always prefer horizontal pictures as opposed to vertical, but in this more closely cropped alternative I love the way the colors and that gorgeous upper wing are so much more pronounced. If I owned these two photos and was going to frame one I would frame the vertical one. I know with a bird in flight you traditionally want room to fly, but I think that the viewer’s imagination can compensate for the lack of space. Either way you can’t lose with photos this good.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
” I think that the viewer’s imagination can compensate for the lack of space”
Interesting point, Everett. I’ve never considered that possibility. Thanks.
hi Ron I like the 2nd one because I can see the intense look in her eye. Diana Thank you
Thanks, Diana.
I think I like the first incredible shot…the composition seems better ,,,the bird has more room to fly…in the second shot it seems to be cramped ..
a truly stunning picture of a red tail…thank you Ron
“in the second shot it seems to be cramped”
I have that same concern. Thanks, Steve.
For me the 2nd composition is it! 🙂 All focus is on the bird – she fills the frame in all her glory with just enough background to compliment her.
Thank you, Judy.
Ron: I have to stop a minute and say, first and foremost, what a gorgeous image! The colors are great, the background nicely supporting your subject, and the pose is fantastic. Yes, I also like the first cropping, as the bird appears to have “somewhere to go.” Wonderful image!
Agreed, Richard – it’s usually important for a bird in flight to have “room to fly into”. Thank you.
I find the first image MUCH more dynamic, with the multiple curves (background, forward edge of wing, back edge of wing) displaying a Fibonacci curve flow! That is lacking in the more linear look of the square crop.
Thanks for the education, Thomas. I had to look up the Fibonacci sequence. Maybe that’s why I’m so enamored by the chambered nautilus.
Both are beautiful as the hawk is singly featured in each with the very neutral background. In the case of this bird, she is so majestic in her appearance I prefer her slightly larger presentation. But then I usually do have a slight preference for a more vertical presentation if at all possible for birds in flight.
Thanks, Kathy.
Just LOVE your series of images and stories of this rufous beauty, Ron! I prefer the first image with more space to the left of the bird; I always like a photo that provides some insight as to where the bird is going (and sometimes where it’s been!). Happy trails, Christine
“I always like a photo that provides some insight as to where the bird is going (and sometimes where it’s been!)”
Excellent point, Christine.
This is such a stunning image of the hawk that the composition feels like a secondary issue … but I prefer the first one because the bird has more room in the frame. The very tilt and sweep of the wings is perfect. The image took my breath away; this is a real show-stopper.
Nancy, thanks for the confirmation of my reasoning for liking this image as much as I do.
It’s funny about tastes involving tightness – they vary a lot. But when a bird’s in flight I think tightness can become more of an issue.