The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
I was photographing what I believed to be the last hummers I would shoot this year. The red cardinal flower was in the middle of a wetland so I needed my longest glass.
I will be posting a vertical view showing more of the plants next,
Feedback Requested
Composition work for you ? I liked the the green plant on the right side of the image. I feel the image is stronger with it rather than without it. I did like the far away green background. This particular image had the best catchlight in the eye of the group. Large crop but I think it works.
Any input appreciated.
Technical Details
Nikon Z8 with Nikon 800 prime. ISO 2000 1/4000 F8.. Tripod as I had to wait for the hummer to return to this particular spot.
Lovely colours in your capture. The bird is sharp and red flowers are a nice pairing to the bird. I’m a bit ambivalent about the green plant. I can see why you put it in for a bit of balance shape and form wise in the composition. I would consider sending/blurring the green plant a bit more into the background ?
I like the crop - works well from my point of view
The processing of the background has left the “cutout masks” of the bird and green flower in particular a bit hard edged. You might try and either feather the masks more, or lower the brightness and saturation so that the transition is less harsh. I’m asking a lot I know bearing how hard you have worked with lens and iso and getting the background non distracting
Nice capture Andrew. I love these little guys. I vote for taking out the green plant fully. The bird and red flowers are a team, so count as THE subject, but the green plant keeps pulling me over there since its larger and taller. My attention is split.
Hi Andrew. I really like shots like this showing a bird and flower and you’ve captured this well. I like the red plant contrasting with the green background. As with the other commenters , I too felt the green plant was a bit of a distraction. I took the liberty of playing around with your image in PS: 5x4 crop, removing the plant , and softening the background in camera raw (negative clarity, texture, and dehaze).
The green plant does present a bit of a distraction to the photo and like @Allen_Brooks rendition without the plant. Hummingbird photography is addicting for sure. Well done freezing the motion with your camera settings…Jim
Excellent late summer image, Andrew. I’m a bit late as yesterday was rather hectic and we’re in a power outage today. I agree that the green plant on the right is just too dominant to work well. Allen did a fine job of illustrating an alternative. It’s neat that you found this in a wetland as nearly all hummingbird images come from gardens or feeders with a water feature thrown in now and then.
