Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

[NS3230]

Not sure whether this image should be in B/W section but if not then please move

Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it (1 of 1) by honda1998rrw, on Flickr

Taken with the old 1D4 and the 400 5.6 + 1.4x set-up

Neal

[lunarbo]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

I like the fact that you're trying something different but for me this isn't working.
Your bird is just too high in the frame and the border too intrusive. I preferred the original colour version on Flickr.
Always worth going out of the box with one's images however and I' d be interested to see if others disagree with me!

[Tigger]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

not really working for me - I think you can only get away with a few animals in B&W

[Stan]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

Apart from the position in the frame and the border, wildlife never really works in mono. The only exceptions really are where the animal is " back and white" naturally for example a zebra close up works well as does a chimp or gorilla head shot

Stan

[lunarbo]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

I was mulling over Tigger's interesting observation, and realising that,on reflection,I agreed with him.

So it's good to have Stan's input.

And yet...............we love the human form in mono- faces, bodies and extremities all seem to work well in mono if photographed well.

Just a thought on extremities. Do you Stan (or any other birdie person) have any close up of talons that works in B&W? would be interested to see.

[jimsphotography]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

11 out of 10 for trying something different Neal. If it was me I would push the boundary of creativity even further and render the sky pure white to emphasise a more abstract feel to the image.
James

[jimsphotography]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

If you would like to look at some black and white bird photography then have a look at the work of this photography
.http://www.abirdseyeview.co.uk/one-good-tern/4587641630
It will NOT be to most peoples taste but I rather like it.
James

[antoeknee]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

Or you could go back in time a bit and look at the work of Eric Hosking. Back in days of film he had to use B&W for low light work. Eric was rather unlucky in that he lost an eye when attacked by a Tawny Owl.

[NS3230]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

If you would like to look at some black and white bird photography then have a look at the work of this photography
.http://www.abirdseyeview.co.uk/one-good-tern/4587641630
It will NOT be to most peoples taste but I rather like it.
James

Thanks for that James, as you say there is definitely a place for mono wildlife work, tho I would admit that it is probably worth modifying this image.
Interestingly the image, as it stands, has been faved on Flickr a couple of time already.
Neal

[jimsphotography]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

Thanks for that James, as you say there is definitely a place for mono wildlife work, tho I would admit that it is probably worth modifying this image.
Interestingly the image, as it stands, has been faved on Flickr a couple of time already.
Neal

Go for it !

[El Sid]

Re: Kestrel in monochrome, but not as we know it

Works for me. Evokes the sight of a kestrel hovering before the strike beautifully. Border probably works better with a mounted print though, in a small screen size image it's a bit heavy and dominant...