The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Fortunately, these birds really are common in Korea, as elsewhere in Eurasia. But they are not easy to catch with the camera in a natural setting as they are very small (17cm) and usually shoot off at the slightest disturbance. This lady (the red lower mandible only in females) was sitting above one of the few bits of the stream which hadn’t frozen, and by chance I stopped the car just above it. As with many birds, I think its hunger made it less keen to move, even if it knew I was there, so I was able to fire off many shots from the open window.
Specific Feedback
Is the background OK?
Technical Details
D500 + 150-600mm (@600mm) 1/500 f10 ISO 640
In LR small adjustments to Blacks and Whites. In PS sharpened a bit. Shortened the perch a little and smoothed the BG. Cropped for composition.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Mike - this is a very pleasing shot. I love kingfisher family. I like the pose, great colours, and a perfect complimentary BG. The simple stick doesn’t draw any attention away from the bird. A tiny nit I wouldn’t mention except that this is a wonderful shot: There is an area on the head that’s a bit soft - I know it’s the feathers - but using a bit of selective sharpening there might add detail, if you wish to.
Excellent image!
Nice one, Mike. Composed well with the pose and perch and the background works well with bird and perch. Wish our Pacific Northwest kingfishers were as colorful, but they are just as skittish.
Comp and colors look good. There’s a slight dark halo along the apical region of the branch. Its very subtle, but easily fixed if so desired. Other than that, I like this image a lot…Jim
Every time I see one of these posted, I want to change the name to something like “Splendid Kingfisher” even though I know they’re widely distributed and fairly plentiful. This is a really nice image. You nailed the bird beautifully. It looks like you might have had some foreground vegetation you were shooting through since there are some darker and less defined areas on both ends of the perch, but that’s not a really significant issue.
Hi Mike, I’m late to the party but this version looks quite nice to me. The details on the bird look good as does the perch. The background is very complimentary.
