The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
From the same excursion as yesterday’s post, I spotted this harrier on a stump and was able to get close enough for some moderately decent images. The light was rather harsh at the time, but I think her plumage helped with that.
Specific Feedback
I brought up the shadows a fair amount and took the highlights down all the way on this one. Did it tame the harshness adequately? I considered removing the two stubs to the left of the bird, but my wife thought they created a nice parabola with the bird and the darker clump of grass on the lower right?
Technical Details
Sony A1, FE 200-600 + 1.4 TC @ 840 mm, hand held from car, f/9, 1/1000, iso 1000. Preprocessing in DxO PureRaw 5, further processing in LR & PS CC. Cropped from a horizontal to 3944x5328. A few distracting weeds removed from the vicinity of the stump and an our of focus dead tree removed from the background.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Awesome to be able to approach a Harrier! And an awesome capture for a reward. The shadows on the bird look naturally soft – I don’t see evidence of tonal tweaking. But I’m curious if the shadow work was only on the bird, as the stump looks a lot darker. (But not surprising if it was – that must be the most exquisitely weathered stump on the planet!) Excellent image!! No suggestions!
Envious at you getting such a cooperative harrier and you took full advantage. Good pose and detail. Wonderful perch; agree with your wife to keep it whole. Nice background as well. Great job.
I love this stare! Great pose and soft colours make this image shine.
Harriers are a very sore topic for me the last several weeks in NZ - LOTS of harriers around, but absolutely NO WAY to pull off the roads to get them.
So I’m quite envious of this fine image !
That is definitely a “we are not amused” look. Fantastic perch, too. Very lucky encounter that you exploited to its fullest. Looks fairly natural the way you’ve managed the contrast - the shadows are there, but not crunchy. I like the bg softness, too. The stump catches more of my attention than you probably want, but I’m not sure if cropping more would do anything to improve. This is where they live and hunt so it’s important to tell the story.
Hi Dennis
Never disagree with the wife. I like the framing, everything brings my eye to the Harrier. the coloring and feather detail looks good. Nice work.
Peter
Man, the raptor gods were smiling on you! How fortunate to have gotten a cooperative harrier on such an interesting prop. These guys are notoriously hard to photograph for me. Love your treatment. Wall hanger, I say.
