Final 10 photo critique

1) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_PLhE-aNqQ/Up4dwkN-teI/AAAAAAAAACo/-lNyQlGqt0s/s1600/DSC_5604.jpg

I really liked this photo for multiple reasons. There is a a great spectrum of colors in the photo, it follows the rule of thirds, the tree to the left of the photo is a great lead in, it was shot at a great f stop which is great for landscape and the colors are appealing.

2) https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs__iFtrS41JQQFYtm-cr946HD6OahyphenhyphenJKqd_Tg5m9edYapROF2fgKZajgJRfWSHfnhYLM2_dWjedHaUutCTD2oSgCaKeKXMjwwXteB9uDHqUVpYhPPsDIJqaR0RVOXdAGdzI7UMWMzclY/s1600/_RW_1758.jpg

This photo is kinda a mind bender. I'm guessing that its ice, but at initial look, you could think other things. It almost looks like a shot of clouds and weather systems from space, which makes for a mind trip. The contrast in the photo gives it great detail. This photo just really stood out to me.

3) https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsU4D9pF3dU5MHIqrtmqrZiGzxHlRrljK3NMXoHLIXlPG8hdYWKSTn35kOmPvlxblZ_pheA-UeO8sg_Rth0fe_IiLv34v_dyR_nK08xrmSuxoJu00UoqZ88dqhVBQ1erV4NT6xsXiugkk/s1600/sun+set.jpg

This photo was really appealing to me when it was shown during presentations. Initially this photo grabs your attention because of the reds in the sky and water. Then you start to notice all the finer details of the photo such the surface of the water. The photo kind meets the rule of thirds, but is slightly off, perfecting this would have made it great.

4) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eec7_mx9iPw/UpuxP1fgmiI/AAAAAAAAAMY/ko2QTaGEqAY/s1600/untitled+%25283+of+21%2529.jpg

This photo was awesome upon initial glance. The changes in color are amazing and it follows the rule of thirds. The reflection of mountains in the water is great, but would have probably been nearly perfect without the little wind making the ripples. I think a little bit more detail could have been captured if using a slightly larger f stop, but overall a great photo.

5) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Af42a-uHDF4/UqbJyRNHBzI/AAAAAAAALMM/GbnV3K8KaJE/w514-h772-no/IMG_2752.jpg

This is the first good moon photo I've seen in a while. I really like the contrast in colors throughout the photo. I would have liked to see some more detail in the moon. I think changing this photo to black and white might have gave the photo the detail I'm looking for. But the halo around the moon in the clouds is pretty sweet.

6)  http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pNwzt3DbgWM/Up6s1_VqZ-I/AAAAAAAAAH0/bl10P74vtd8/s1600/YNP-5386.jpg

This photo is just simply amazing to me. The warm colors really grab your attention and are inviting. The clouds don't even look natural, the also look like cartoon birds that were drawn in. And there's even detail and snow in the mountains towards the bottom of the picture. It really follows the rule of thirds as well. Great photo.

7) https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZyXxum0aKgg-_M_w6NlPBdBG8gyGwEB2D5ITP5aXNtOmgDxYXR1g2lKw6VUwivqWrjE9wAsbL507CQroMKb9dIQ7DomvihMB_IDsrMx6Krb6pmy0-eg3y8bsXN_VhuNO-A9bm_BF2QM/s1600/IMG_3615.jpg

This photo really grabbed my attention due to the extreme amount of detail that was captured. The blurred background made the subject really stick out and gave it more detail. It might have made it nice to have more image to the left to give the eagle something to look into, as well as the feathers on its nose pulled some attention of detail of the eagle. Great photo though.

8) http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-85SOsS7YY4A/UqCmm1YOFfI/AAAAAAAAAHE/MCQJxaPbOPM/s1600/EDIT-1748.jpg

I really enjoyed the contrast of colors in this photo, and especially the ice reflecting off the ground under and around the bird. I like the detail that was captured in the bird, although I would have liked to have see a faster shutter speed to completely stop the bird. But have the bird positioned like it is in the photo is really appealing. Nice photo.

9) https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WeAPZGYlPCu94PiABiu-vWZySFgQHcfKpUx9_fSX57grA-US4vO8tLwrCxQ-IzmnE62Fdtzd2kzK35v4wj-qihg0d1B-l6elg-KWJ2Rwpjfjc06R_J4ymwPlpMz7uLMi2pLnObXr1jGM/s640/Yellowstone+2013+302.jpg

This is probably one of the best landscape shots I've seen this semester. The rule of thirds is great, the water leads you up to and through the image, the detail is pretty good, and the way the photo is shot almost gives you like a tunnel vision affect. Great photo.

10) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhFugK8IJA8/UpuxJ5CtJFI/AAAAAAAAAL8/rob-htAytCU/s1600/untitled+%252815+of+21%2529.jpg

I really enjoyed this photo for the most part. The rule of thirds was followed well, there was great detail, lines that catch your attention and draw you through the photo and captured the essence of a more secluded portion of Yellowstone. My only downside is that it was a little over edited, other than that, awesome photo.

3 Image Critique

Image #1 - The image was taken with a 70 second exposure, which makes sense given the soft clouds/fog that is pouring out. I like that the brightness on the left bottom of the image draws you into the rest of the photo and the horizon. But the trees in the front right of the image almost seem to stick out too much and almost look photo shopped into the photo.

Image #2 - This photo was also taken with an extended exposure, giving the foreground the soft blurred quality. This picture also follows the rule of thirds really well with a foreground, middle ground in which the main subject is located, and the horizon for the last/ top third. I kind of don't like the blurred foreground though, it's distracting to me.

Image #3 - I really like this photo and how the squirrel is perfectly in focus while the rest of the image is out of focus. I think with a faster shutter speed this photographer could have also slowed down the tail of the squirrel, making it an even better photo. Having the branch a little more in focus would kind of eliminate the thought that the squirrel is just flying as well.

Final - 30 original photos

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec

Nikon D60, 18.0-55.0mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 100, 42mm, f/5.3, 1/15 sec

Nikon D60, 18.0-55.0mm f/3.5-5.6, ISO 100, 48mm, f/8.0, 1/400 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 200, 175mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 200mm, f/6.3, 1/400 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 55mm, f/4.5, 1/2500 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 500, 175mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec FLASH

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 200, 150mm,f/5.3, 1/60 sec FLASH

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 400, 180mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 560, 135mm, f/5.0, 1/60 sec FLASH

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 400, 116mm, f/4.8, 1/50 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 190mm, f/7.1, 1/30 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 165mm, f/5.3, 1/100 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/20 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 400, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 400, 175mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 500, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec FLASH

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 400, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec FLASH

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 55mm, f/22.0, 1/120 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 55mm, f/4.5, 1/80 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 110mm, f/4.8, 1/320 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 190mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec

Nikon D60, 55.0-200.0mm f/4.0-5.6, ISO 100, 80mm, f/4.5, 1/13 sec

iPhone 4s, ISO 50, 4.28mm, f/2.4, 1/1500 sec

iPhone 4s, ISO 50, 4.28mm, f/2.4, 1/300 sec

iPhone 4s, ISO 80, 4.28mm, f/2.4, 1/120 sec

iPhone 4s, ISO 50, 4.28mm, f/2.4, 1/120 sec

iPhone 4s, ISO 50, 4.28mm, f/2.4, 1/200 sec

iPhone 4s, ISO 50, 4.28mm, f/2.4, 1/850 sec

Fly Fishing The Horn

I was going back through some of my photos I took of my buddies while fly fishing the Big Horn river a few weeks back. I noticed I had some pretty good photos that I should edit and get up on the blog! Both capture the fly in motion, one is a sunset picture and the other I'm getting the stink eye from my buddy Brad. Enjoy the photos!

Weekend Warrior

This last weekend I had the opportunity to go up to Flathead Lake for work to pick up a few Trumpeter Swans to bring back to Billings. While up there I was blessed to be able to go kayaking on Flathead Lake, while also taking in all the beauty around me. On the drive home I was also blessed with beautiful landscapes to admire, including the Crazy Mountains near Big Timber, right around sunset. So from my weekend adventure, I thought that I'd share a few photos (taken with my iPhone)! Enjoy!

Kayaking Flathead Lake

Crazy Mountains

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

I took some more time to shoot some photos at my place of employment. I took a set of photos right about sunrise and fought with the poor lighting a bit while doing so. Even though 75% of my photos turned out like crap, I had a few that I really liked and decided to edit. So I decided to share a few of my favorites from this most recent shoot.  I plan on hopefully getting a great photo of every bird species that I have at work. In the mean time, enjoy these few photos.

Canada Goose

Emperor Geese

Bird Life

Working at a bird refuge has it's up and downs, but when you have a passion for animals, I think there's many more ups than downs. I've only been working at WJH bird resources for a month now and I have already grown attached to some of the feathery residents. Upon my favorites at work is OJ. OJ is a 3 year old female trumpeter swan that was hand raised at WJH, making her fairly accustomed to people. And upon my other favorites are the Emperor Geese. So I decided I'd share a few photos I took with my iphone to show off my new friends! Enjoy!

Emperor Goose

OJ the Trumpeter Swan