Bald & Bare

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
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Bald & Bare
Bald & Bare1600×1066 529 KB

I went out early last year looking for bald eagles. We used to have hundreds this time of year, but in the last years it’s been very few. I didn’t get anything I was really hoping for and it was a biting cold, windy day. I did like this “eagle eye” on me well enough to save it.

I just took the shots into my iPad, not really thinking to save or share. This is a quick re-edit in the Affinity app and the first time I’ve used it. It feels a little “off”, but I decided to share it anyway. I feel like I should have taken it through my usual process. Really not to satisfied with the image overall, but maybe there’s not really anything that can salvage it. :slight_smile:

Specific Feedback Requested

Whatever you feel like sharing.

Technical Details

Is this a composite: No
Processed from RAW in the Affinity app. It’s the first time I’ve used it, so I don’t really have a clue and just tried things. I bonded with Capture One, so this format is not really familiar to me, although the tools are there. I raised the exposure and did lighten the eagle some, especially around the eye which was in quite heavy shadow.

This was at 105mm which was the most reach I could get so I did a pretty heavy crop. The eagles were in a very tall tree along the river. I find the white cloud distracting but as I recall I didn’t really have any good background options.

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Hi Karla. This is a pretty cool image. I really like the flow of the branches and the position of the eagle in the frame. I do think the eagle could be punched up a bit with your normal processing, but I’m inclined to think that the larger problem is the foreshortened view of the eagle’s body which gives it a rather awkward look.

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@Dennis_Plank Thanks for your comments on the composition. It was a bit of an awkward angle on the eagle. Maybe I could have come around just a bit. They were not very eager to pose and I was afraid of scaring away the last one. :slight_smile: I might consider having another play with it.

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Karla, I think this looks good as a view of the eagle in a tree (where they’re often seen…). Having the blue sky behind the eagle helps emphasize the bird, while the white clouds seem fitting.

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@Mark_Seaver Thanks for the comments. I think the only other background was white and I didn’t like losing the eagle’s head in the clouds. I guess I got a natural vignette by default. I miss the photo ops we used to have when there were so many more around.