Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I got this brief pose of an adult male acorn woodpecker recently. I liked the seeming ly intense interest that he seemed to have with something.
Specific Feedback
Is the square crop working?
Technical Details
Z9, 180-600 lens, Nikon 1.4 TC, monopod, 1/1000th, f 9.0, 1035mm, ISO 3200, cropped to 3173 x 2773.
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I like the pose and the head turn. It seems to be a little soft, especially on the black plumage. There’s virtually no detail in the black plumage. I also find the background to be a little distracting. I think you can fix the background pretty easily by using a feathering and going over the white areas with a soft brush set to 50% opacity. Lastly, perhaps darkening the perch as the brightness of the perch tends to pull my eye away from the bird. Sorry I’m so hard on you but that’s how you learn.
Hey, that’s how I learn and, hopefully improve. 'Preciate ya!
Very nice capture! These guys are SO black and white – frustrating, even in soft light. I’ve had good results pulling the Shadows slider well right and Highlights well left, then tweak Exposure. But this guy looks to be in the shade so I don’t mind him being a bit dark. For me, I’d love to see a little more on the left if you have it. I love the top half of the BG – it is so artistically OOF with interesting detail. The bottom half is a bit bland by comparison. Maybe some burning with a very soft-edged mask…
Hi Dave, nice catch of this woodpecker. That is a very intense look. For my taste, I would add some room on top. The BG and blacks look pretty much OK to me. Bird seems a little soft.
He certainly seems to be intent on something, Dave. Excellent pose and I like the perch. I could see giving the bird a bit more room if the background doesn’t get too ugly outside your current crop.
