The birdman

[Messiah Khan]

1.
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs29/f/2008/052/d/7/Defenceless_by_MessiahKhan.jpg

2.
http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs30/f/2008/052/c/4/The_birdman_by_MessiahKhan.jpg

Which one do you prefer? You are quite possibly witnessing the start of my ARPS here as well. I've been planning a possible ARPS project for quite some time now (Yes, I realise my LRPS hasn't even been assessed yet, but its boring waiting for it.). The project might evolve a bit yet, but for the moment it is about human interaction with animals. Not so much pets, but more working animals and our interaction with wildlife. the shots will very from closeup portraits like this, to more classic posed portraits. The shots planned so far are;

A man who hunts with an Eagle
A Farmer during lambing season
Pigeon fanciers
Whippet/Greyhound racers
Gypsy horses
Sheep dogs
Hunting with ferrets

I need a total of 15 shots for the ARPS, so im either going to need to double up on some characters or find more possible situations.
:)

[Cobra]

Very Nice :thumbs:
perhaps I can throw a couple of suggestions into the equation
Depends on what angle you are looking for but try to
find yourself a rural pest controller
They should be able to show you
working terriers
Ferreting
mole trap setting

Drag hounds ( a pack of hounds following a human scent)
Just a couple of ideas

[CT]

The first is the best for me -by far. The strong diagonal formed by the hands works really well in the vertical format, and the pliers are at the right angle to reinforce the diagonal. With a bit of a crop at the top the pliers would be strongly connecting two 3rds intersections too.

[mobilevirgin]

Utterly stunning. You caught the moment so well and the PP is perfect. LRPS shouldn't be a problem if you can keep this up. I'm impressed.

[Duckydoodle]

Love the sharpness and clarity in no 1. Like the way you've managed to capture the strength and gentleness in those hands :thumbs:

LRPS, ARPS :shrug:

[Janice]

I love these.... already been said but the strength and gentleness abounds.
The second one is best for me.. the exposure is good and I like having the coat in the shot too as it shows the workingness of the man.

[HIMUPNORTH]

From a personal preference I would probably like the second however for the LRPS for the reasons Cedric gave it would be the stronger shot.

Good luck with the ARPS!

:thumbs:

[Hacker]

The first is definitely the stronger of the two. Stunning work.

[A.N.Other]

Might be tempted to crop a touch off the top corner of the second just to accentuate the diagonal, but that's the far better shot. Great work on both, anyway.

[MrGrumpy]

First one for me, as your focus is drawn nicely along the pliers to the hand containing the bird. In the second, the right hand holds your attention for too long ... IMO. :)

Superb shot.

[susie]

First one, a lot of detail in the hands which for me makes it a stronger image.

[Slapo]

I happen to prefer the second one because of how hands are included into composition.

[InaGlo]

I really like both but think its the 2nd shot for me MK, :thumbs:

When I look at the 1st, I see all the points that CT made, but it feels a little contived and 'too' carefully considered from a technical point of view.
When I look at the 2nd shot, I dont think so much as feel it ... then I notice the photographic qualities of the shot.

Also, imo, with part of the mans body in the 2nd shot, it shows how closely he is working & for me relates to the delicacy of the work that he is doing, where as I feel the 1st is more like hands dangling in mid-air... so the sensitivity is lost for me.

Maybe keep an open mind between the two images, and see how you feel when you have gathered some of the others youre planning, and how they work together as a set.

Just a few more ideas on working with animals, perhaps consider...
A farrier, vet, pest control (rats etc) RSPCA workers, Bee keepers, zoo keeper, Police dog handler/trainer, guide dogs... ooh I could go on!


Anyway good luck, really look forward to seeing it unfold & the end results. :thumbs: