# Anhinga (+revised) **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, abstract, black-and-white, birds\ **Created:** [August 24, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046 "2026-08-24T20:09:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Cothron](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jonathan_cothron/32/87991_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Cothron](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jonathan_Cothron)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/1 "2026-08-24T20:09:09Z")
## Revised Version ### Revision 1 (latest) ![Revision 1 - 00886-R3-240611_WM1600_Revision-8-30-26.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/0/c00f22d1269f37edb4ffe666aa3069d9e64e5ac2.jpeg) **What changed:** I did some local work to better define the beak of the anhinga. Otherwise it is unchanged. _Added after receiving feedback from the community._ * * * ## Original Version ![Original - 00886-R3-240611_WM1600_BW_Web.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/b/5/b55f408a61ac2530da30de7c0d028d2016262362.jpeg) **Critique Style:** Standard The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic + Technical ### About This Image I was inspired by this processing technique here, someone did this with a black and white image as an example and I thought it looked interesting, I’ve been playing around with processing to get a feel for it. The original image is an anhinga swimming across a pond during a rainstorm in the Everglades. ### Feedback Requested I wanted enough detail to suggest the bird, as well as the water…but I also wanted it to be very abstract. To my eye it appears to be a sketch of sorts, but I could see someone using something like this as wall art vs. a realistic photograph. Any thoughts welcome. ### Technical Details Camera: Canon EOS R3 Lens: RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM + EXTENDER RF1.4x Focal length: 700mm Shutter speed: 1/1000s Aperture: f/10 ISO: 3200 ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/2 "2026-08-24T20:56:20Z")
Very interesting and nicely done, Jonathan. Many, many years ago I was heavily involved in putting on an awards program at work and we had a sketch artist who did the winners from their badge photos for the program. One year he wasn’t available the the then early PS actually had a filter that did a pretty fair emulation in that emergency. Don’t know why they discontinued it. I don’t know what process you used to accomplish this, but I do like the results which make for a very interesting image. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/3 "2026-08-25T00:23:19Z")
It is suggestive of a pencil or ink sketch, Jonathan. I’d say your technique accomplished what you were going for. Obviously, this type of rendition is a matter of personal taste, and there are likely dozens if not hundreds of variations, but I could see showing the upper side and tip of the beak. As this is a very artistic presentation, I could see a black stroke around the edge with a white frame. Hope to see more of your work like this; it’s nice to see the member’s creativity. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 1:40am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/4 "2026-08-25T01:40:37Z")
Hi Jonathan, really like this treatment. A creative result that works great as a semi-abstract as you mention. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Huw\_Thomas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/huw_thomas/32/87850_2.png) [@Huw\_Thomas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Huw_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/5 "2026-08-25T22:17:21Z")
Hi Jonathan Ps and other engines can produce just about any manipulation you can think of … so the starting point is really what do you want the manipulation to convey? Is it a photograph that looks like a pencil sketch? Very easy for Ai to do. ![Screenshot 2026-08-26 at 17.08.17](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/0/c0c551ee7bd36d32f437656e873d20ced2ff0e73.png) At the moment your processing has made the bird very high key, It lacks detail and tonal range except at the very high end. The beak tip is almost lost in the whiteout If you want you could upload the raw file to let others have a go at processing to give you some alternative ideas?? Image processing challenge from the top menu below critiques You can upload it into the raw processing section of the website and I’ll have a play if you can give an idea of where you are heading - maybe a link to someone else’s image we can emulate? Should be fun if you’re up for it? here’s a take on your image above ![00886-R3-240611_WM1600_BW_Web-studio](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/2/2/220d4e43ae7d765d1c5d2ce3f0bbf5f2ec5c7398.jpeg) regards Huw ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morrissey](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/peter_morrissey/32/683_2.png) [@Peter\_Morrissey](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Peter_Morrissey)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/6 "2026-08-26T14:19:56Z")
Hi Jonathan This photograph is one of the main reasons I am a member of NPN. To view the artists’ expressions of photographers from around the world has helped me become a better photographer. Thank you. Peter ---
**Author:** ![Lon\_Overacker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/lon_overacker/32/10929_2.png) [@Lon\_Overacker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lon_Overacker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 5:18am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/7 "2026-08-30T05:18:15Z")
Jonathan, Wow, this is fantastic! A terrific image to start with (I can imagine,) and great vision to create this “abstract.” No nits or suggestions. Excellent vision and crafting of this one. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/system/32/86481_2.png) [@system](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 10:53am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/8 "2026-08-30T10:53:25Z")
The original poster added a [revised version](#post_1) of their image. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Cothron](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jonathan_cothron/32/87991_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Cothron](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jonathan_Cothron)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 11:02am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/9 "2026-08-30T11:02:44Z")
> [@Dennis\_Plank](#): > > I don’t know what process you used to accomplish this, but I do like the results which make for a very interesting image. Dennis thank you! I did all of this in Lightroom. I used adaptive black and white (vs. Adobe monochrome) and played around with the white point and black point, contrast, clarity, etc. to get the effect. It’s pretty extreme but I found it interesting what you can do. > [@Allen\_Brooks](#): > > As this is a very artistic presentation, I could see a black stroke around the edge with a white frame. Hope to see more of your work like this; it’s nice to see the member’s creativity. Allen thank you very much, I did some work on the beak as you suggested. I like the idea of your black stroke/white frame but didn’t do that on the revision. > [@Allen\_Sparks](#): > > Hi Jonathan, really like this treatment. A creative result that works great as a semi-abstract as you mention. Well done. Allen thank you! > [@Huw\_Thomas](#): > > [Ps](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/npn-acronyms-and-terms/12151#photoshop) and other engines can produce just about any manipulation you can think of … so the starting point is really what do you want the manipulation to convey? > Is it a photograph that looks like a pencil sketch? Very easy for Ai to do Huw thank you! Yes you can do just about anything these days, particularly in Ps. I didn’t start this with a particular end point in mind, more so with just a direction. Everything I did was in Lr. I rarely get into Ps these days although it does happen on occasion. It’s probably a better tool for this kind of processing for sure. > [@Huw\_Thomas](#): > > t the moment your processing has made the bird very high key, It lacks detail and tonal range except at the very high end. The beak tip is almost lost in the whiteout That’s the direction I wanted to go with it but wasn’t sure where I would stop. Agreed on the beak. > [@Huw\_Thomas](#): > > You can upload it into the [raw](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/npn-acronyms-and-terms/12151#raw-file) processing section of the website and I’ll have a play if you can give an idea of where you are heading - maybe a link to someone else’s image we can emulate? > > Should be fun if you’re up for it? I wasn’t aware of this, thank you. Sure you can take a stab at it. I’ll figure out how to upload the RAW. I like the rendition you did, although it is a little more detail than I envisioned when I started it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Cothron](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jonathan_cothron/32/87991_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Cothron](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jonathan_Cothron)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 11:03am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/10 "2026-08-30T11:03:08Z")
Thank you very much Lon! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Cothron](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jonathan_cothron/32/87991_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Cothron](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jonathan_Cothron)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 11:03am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/11 "2026-08-30T11:03:39Z")
Much appreciated Peter, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/12 "2026-08-30T13:28:19Z")
Excellent and creative treatment of this bird with a memorable abstract quality. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/anhinga-revised/52046/13 "2026-08-30T16:34:52Z")
I just got to the revised version, Jonathan. Very well done bringing out the beak.