Cedar Waxwings Having a Berry Party

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

I enjoyed watching these guys ravaging the berries from this bush. Hard to get a decent photo—they were mostly gone before I acquired them and focused. It was quite a party though, with lots of chatter, tugging and tussling.

I upgraded my W10 home to the 1809 version, in order to use the photo enhancement in the latest LR upgrade. Can’t say it makes much difference, but my computer didn’t crash and burn!:sweat_smile:

DSC_4644-Enhanced-copy
DSC_4644-Enhanced-copy1600×1148 993 KB

What technical feedback would you like if any?

There was a lot of busy BG, not much of which I could modify or remove. Too busy?

What artistic feedback would you like if any?

Pertinent technical details or techniques:

Camera Info: Nikon D500, HH
Lens: VR 300mm f/4E + 1.4x TC
Focal Length: 420mm
Focus Mode: AF-C
AF-Area Mode: Dynamic, 25 points
VR: ON
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/500s
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Metering: Matrix
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 400
44% of full frame (cropped for composition and to remove BG brush
PP in LR/PS CC 2019, Topaz Studio, TK sharpen for web @ 50%

Selectively edited the birds separately from the BG. Subject layer detailed in Topaz Studio and midtones darkened in PS. BG layer darkened by 15%. The image was sharpened, flattened and reduced in size to 1600 pixels x n.

You may only download this image to demonstrate post-processing techniques.
2

Certainly not a classical bird on a stick image, Phil, but this works well for my taste. There’s a lot going on to keep my attention throughout the image and the way the light falls on the main subject leaves no doubt as to what that subject is. Some of the background is pretty bright, but I’ve never been able to find a way of subduing that look without it looking horrible and I really don’t find it particularly distracting in this case.

It took me a long time to notice the head of the third bird. Thanks for leaving it in.

3

Nice behavioral catch. I’m drawn to the birds with berries so the busy background doesn’t bother me too much. Beautiful birds.

4

Nice environment and behavioral image with excellent color and detail.