I saw but ignored an interesting lens artifact – some of the OOF branches appear as double images! I haven’t noticed this before and will check all the lens surfaces I can reach for any haze or the like, and will go back through images to see how common it is. I suspect it will only show at a certain range of out of the focal plane vs aperture.
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Another one from the winter feeding frenzy in the Hawthorn tree. This female posed in front of a Mistletoe. I’m not sure what made it so yellow – nothing heroic done to colors.
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
Some Shadows and Highlights in LR then into PS for Topaz Denoise, some local adjustments and a little border patrol pruning. About a 50% crop.
Critique Template
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Diane, another nice waxwing image! The pose is unusual, and the berries and lichens add a lot. From here, it looks as if there are artifacts in the upper third of the imageat the edge from some of your processing ?
I got some decent waxwing images last month I have yet to process - hope they are this nice!
I never tire of seeing these waxwings. They’re such a pretty bird…and you have caught this one in a riot of colours. The browns of the bird contrasting with the reds and yellows in the BG.
I love the parallel branches embracing the bird. I was on the fence with that little curvy branch at the top, but decided it just adds to the framing of the bird.
Another beautiful Waxwing image, Diane. I really like the lighting in this one with the almost translucent quality it gives the bird. I’d be tempted to eliminate the partial fruits on the left edge and top.
Thanks, @SandyR-B, @glennie and @Dennis_Plank! Sandy, good eye – thanks! I removed some half-berries there and the Remove tool left the yellowish-pinkish smudge, which I didn’t notice. The other slightly odd-looking areas just to the left are natural, but I’m not averse to fixing natural things that don’t look right – I’ll have a look later. Dennis, I’ll have a go at those half-berries, too. I’m usually conflicted about how much to clean up. Glennie, that branch at the top bothered me, too, but removing it seemed like it would leave an empty area. It’s a messy tree after a lot of the berries are gone, with little stems going every which way.
Diane: the very minor changes that I would suggest are to burn the branch the bird is perching on and toadd a bit of a vignette. Lovely otherwise. Please send some waxwings my way.
Thanks @Richard_Sandor – I did both those tweaks, but could try more on the branch. The lichen was quite bright in the raw file and got some selective darkening.
Lovely image Diane. Love seeing one of these beauties in a setting like this. The berries make a very nice backdrop. For my taste I could see losing the little branch in upper right. Great details and pose.
Easy to guess who posted this. Another pleasing waxwing shot. Nice pose and nicely framed by the berries. I’d be tempted to remove the berry on the left and the branch in the RUC. I like how the mistletoe colors complements the waxwing.
Thanks. @Allen_Sparks and @Allen_Brooks! I thought about pruning that branch in the UL but felt the corner would feel a little empty. Definitely should have bothered with the berry on the L edge. I’ll tweak, along with above suggestions, and do a RP later today.
