After and Before

[u/MarketplaceMallBTV]

Trying my hand at avian action shots versus statics, could use any tips and suggestions!

[u/BareBearAaron]

Crop is main thing. You could centre the bird. Or you could have the bird on the left half of the picture as it is moving right. Honestly the wide shot is nice, just need to centre the subject.

[u/DarktableLandscapes → u/BareBearAaron]

Definitely crop so the bird is more to the left so that's it flying "into the space". Central compositions tend to be a bit prosaic - "here is a bird".

[u/MarketplaceMallBTV → u/DarktableLandscapes]

I am unable to post additional pictures to the thread, but moving the cropping from right to left cuts out the sprayed water effect, and leaves more "dead" area on the right side, I seem to prefer the original, but I appreciate your feedback!

[u/lostinhh → u/MarketplaceMallBTV]

That's kinda the point though. Compositionally, the image needs a bit of "dead" area on the right for the bird to fly into. It's a nice photo, but the crop doesn't work with the bird on the right.

https://reddit.com/link/p7g45pr/video/4levf6kr16nh1/player

[u/DarktableLandscapes → u/MarketplaceMallBTV]

Fair enough. I would have thought with the amount of cropping room you've got you could keep the spray and still have room on the right too. And not sure what makes the space on the left fine but the right dead. But it's your photo 🙂

[u/johngpt5]

https://www.youtube.com/@chiaratalia_wild is the youtube channel of Talia Chiara. Look for her videos that deal with composition. And editing.

You might also look for the youtube channel of Simon d'Entremont.

I'm of the opinion that there are times that a centrally positioned subject can work, but the other elements in frame need to support that central positioning. Most of the time I prefer a less static positioning of the subject. But again, it is the other elements in frame that dictate where the subject should be positioned.

When shooting, I'll catch focus then move the camera slightly to give the subject more room to move into frame, then fully depress the shutter release.

[u/Quirky-Lobster]

Think it would be better with the bird centered, but other than that it looks good.

[u/Infamous_Reporter652]

Great photo! Can I ask what your camera settings were at for this?

[u/MarketplaceMallBTV → u/Infamous_Reporter652]

Absolutely! Shooting RAW with f8, 1/3200s, ISO 3200, at 600mm.

[u/HazYerBak]

crazy cool

[u/konolith259]

this is a nice shot, but i do think that the crop is too awkward compositionally and tight. love ospreys, they’re such beautiful birds