Today’s modern cameras offer amazing frame rates that can be both a pleasure and a pain. It was only a few years ago that I was shooting with a camera that could do 5 frames per second. Today, my OM1 can shoot at an amazing 120 frames per second (though I almost never use it at this speed). This means that one’s ability to capture nuance is massively improved. It also means that one can have a nightmare trying to decide what to keep and what to throw away.
The following sequence of images is but a small example of such a challenge. These 8 images were shot at a frame rate of 20 frames per second and represent what remains after the initial culling has occurred. My challenge is narrowing the selection down to the one image I truly love.
Initially, I was drawn to the last image of the sequence. I like the curvature of the wings rising up and then twisting out. I like the angle of the toes about to touch down. However, on close inspection it wasn’t quite as sharp as the others. So, in the end, I went with the second image which also had nice twists to the wings.
With a little cropping and color adjustment I ended up with the image below.
To some, I am sure, such decisions appear simple or even unnecessary. To others, myself included, they are amazingly difficult struggles. In either case, a true first class problem that I would welcome more often.
What is your favorite?