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Questions to guide your feedback
This image is heavily cropped; however I wonder what folks would think about cropping out most of the right side? As with most bird photography, my experience is shots are fleeting, so I did my best in the few moments I had to capture a few images before these birds flew away. General thoughts are most appreciated.
Other Information
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Image Description
I shot this image in my backyard after spotting several waxwings in the yard. I had never photograph waxwings before because then are short winter residents in my area. As a matter of fact, they spent maybe 10 minutes in my yard and then they were gone. By the time I grabbed my camera and tripod, I only had a few minutes to compose a few shots.
Technical Details
Camera settings: 500mm, f8, 1/500 sec, ISO 320. Post processed in Adobe LR, basic adjustments and cropped.
Specific Feedback
Any initial thoughts or comments will be appreciated.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Steve, it’s great to catch ANY waxwings, as they are so skittish and fleeting. I’m hoping some show up here, now that the berries are ripening.
Nice poses from these two. I like the inclusion of that dead leaf. A couple suggestions: I’d personally get rid of that small trunk bit in the lower right., and leave a little more room at the botton, so the tail is not right at the edge. A bit of shadow control might provide a little detail in the dark trunk. And - a very small thing - the shadow across the crest of the upper bird is a little distracting and could easily be removed. I’d suggest adding saturation to the red and yellow wing-tips, since that is such a nice characteristic of these guys. Easily done by circling the area carefully and adding sat.
I shoot a lot of birds in pairs or groups, and I am usually set at F10-13 or so, to get them in good focus. Here, the read bird is just a tad soft.
Sweet image!
My first impression is that the two birds are beautiful. I like their soft image and the colors. They seem a copy one of the other. Sandy has written a full critique I can only add that the eye of the upper bird need to become visible out of the dark. A beautiful photo anyway.
A beautiful capture of two beautiful birds. I like the diagonal lines of the branches in your square crop, and I like the dead leaf.
I don’t mind that the rear bird is a bit OOF, a smaller aperture would probably have rendered the BG worse than in your post.
I agree with @SandyR-B about the tail, if it is in the file a little more space between the tail and the edge of the image would be nice. Another minor nit: there is apparently an OOF branch coming from the LRC, that obscures a part of the leaf. Too bad that the branch is just there, bad luck, we can’t have it all.
Lovely image.
Initial reaction is a nice catch of these beauties - sharpness on the head of the front bird looks good to me. Fine colors. I would see about adding more space on the bottom if possible. Nice that you caught some of the red on the front bird’s wing. The surroundings are busy but my attention still mainly stays with the birds here.
