The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Festive Coquette Hummers, Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil
Male - Top, 2 Females below
I’ve finally had time to start to dig through at least 23,000 hummer images from Brazil. The male of these joyous , gorgeous hummers have long, streaming neck feathers that they flare and wave during courting.
Much credit goes to Javier Zurita , our Trogon Brazil guide, javierzuritaphotography.com
for the exceptional multi-flash set-up. This may be the luckiest shot I ever get in my lifetime (hoping for a few more) , and the perfectly-exposed BG with no shadows made editing easy. Hummers really are just absolute pure luck to catch together or in a good position. When you take 19,821 shots of these guys coming in 1-2-3 at a time over 30 minutes in 4 sessions, some are going to be keepers. Once you have your camera set, you pretty much sit there with your remote and try to anticipate them coming in and get the 20-30 FPS going, and hope.
Two distant, OOF hummers removed
Specific Feedback
Comments please - even the tiniest nit, or an alternative possibility
Should the OOF wing on the right stay or go?
Technical Details
Sony A1
70-200 + 1.4x @ 197
Date Taken: 2024-08-17 11:23:45
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec
F Number: f/13
ISO Speed Ratings: ISO 400
Exposure Program: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Tripod, gimbal, remote
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
This has got to be the best hummer shot I’ve ever seen. You worked hard for it, but it was worth it. I love the water drops - and for me that small bit of wing should stay. To raise this from 99.5% perfection I’d just smooth out a couple of bumpy BG bits in the right side which I can just still see after cleaning my monitor. Brava!
Very cool, Sandy. I’ve never gotten into the multi-flash thing, but this is really nice. I’m not sure, but was one of the areas you cleaned up behind the male’s head? The top of his head looks like he might have been scalped a trifle, but it could also be the nature of the critter.
@Dennis_Plank The males have a small crest, and I think that’s what you are seeing. I’ll take another look at that area and try to define it a bit more. Thanks for noticing!
Hi Sandy, what an amazing capture, WOW! Love seeing the three birds so sharp like this and all in great poses, both body and wing. Really terrific.
I only mention this because you asked for the tiniest nits - there is a double catchlight in the eye of the bird on the left. I think the small lower catchlight can go. But that is minor as I said.
Congrats on this image – Well done!
I’m way behind here and will never catch up but had to pop in on this one and just add another WOW! Perfection indeed! And congratulations on the EP – so well-deserved!
