Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I have been observing this Osprey nest and its occupants for the past few years. It is said that a mated pair of Ospreys return to the same nest every spring to raise their chicks. I noticed that the nest was gone this past winter, either removed intentionally or blown down. But come spring the nest was rebuilt and the pair of Ospreys gave birth to two young ones, as seen this past June. I am constantly amazed by the resiliency of these birds, along with the many species of wildlife I see in my local area.
Specific Feedback
I believe that when it comes to images of wildlife the story it tells and the emotions the viewer feels are more important than any technical aspects. I would like to hear about what thoughts you have when looking at this photo. Thanks.
Technical Details
Canon R6 Mk ii
100-400mm lens with 1.4 TC at 560mm
f/11, 1/320 sec, ISO 320
Cropped and processed in Lightroom, Topaz Photo AI for sharpening.
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Hi Ted, nice catch of this osprey family. Nice to see the faces of all three birds. The image does tell a story of the adult caring for the chicks. I could see cropping some from the bottom maybe just eliminating the blue sky below the nest supports. I see some details in the shadows on the bird so seems like you handled the strong light pretty well even though the whites on top of the adult seem to be hot.
Thanks Allen. Yes, bright sunlight and white feathers are always tricky.
Hi Ted
I’m glad to see you have a nest to follow. Ospreys are fun to photograph. I hope you don’t mind, I loaded your photograph into DXO PhotoLab and reduced the contrast and cropped the bottom of the frame. What do you think?
Peter
I’m liking your edit Peter. Thanks for your feedback.
HI Ted
I only hope to offer a new look at photographs.
Peter
Not having the history of this nest, it didn’t directly evoke a feeling of resilience, but this species does that naturally for me as I grew up in the era of massive DDT use, With aerial spraying over neighborhoods every summer and plummeting numbers of birds, particularly raptors. This is a nice family grouping, Ted with the red eyes of the juveniles contrasting well with the yellow of the adult. Like Allen and Peter, I would trim up from the bottom, but I think I’d carry it even further in this case: something like the example I’ve included. Shooting up at a steep angle which is hard to avoid with this species and where they nest, creates as feeling of separation from the subject. By cropping from the bottom and getting the subjects lower in the frame, you can create a false feeling that they are more on the photographer’s level and it helps create more of a connection with the subject.
That crop looks great Dennis. Thanks for your suggestion.
