Foraging Avocets, Owens Lake

Image Critiques Weekly Challenge
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Foraging Avocets, Owens Lake .JPG
Foraging Avocets, Owens Lake .JPG2889×2058 1.08 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I’m forever indebted to (1) the people who fought to establish the vast bird ponds at Owens Lake and (2) to these lovely Avocets, which allowed me quite good access very early one morning. I shot hundreds of photos, alone on the dikes, and fortunately I calmed down enough at one point to notice that the images were greatly enhanced when I positioned myself to get the birds and their reflections against a reflected Sierra wall.

Specific Feedback

The challenge for me here has been cropping. How much mountain in the frame? Too much and the birds aren’t strong enough; too little and you lose the sense of place. Processing was also tricky, as I wanted to punch up the contrast of the reflected mountain but struggled with overexposing the birds’ whiteness in the morning sun.

Technical Details

Olympus EM1 Mark II, F8, 1/1250th, ISO 400, 300MM.
I have since started shooting with a Nikon Z6II full frame and a 400MM.
Truth is, the Oly and 300MM – a lightweight kit which I still love – were not quite up to this wonderful opportunity to shoot the avocet flocks. Some of the best shots, with upwards of 300 birds in tight formation, are heartbreakers because the small sensor resolution makes them look kind of like cartoon characters!

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2

James, the Avocets stand out well here, with the reflection adding a nice touch of abstraction. It seems like your question is about what story you want this image to tell and you’re conflicted between the birds and the mountain’s reflection. As you think about that decision, it may be helpful to consider that the mountain’s reflection is there just about anytime, while the birds are temporary. In this view, with the bird on the left cut off, strongly pull attention to that group of birds and leaves the viewer wondering why the bird is cut off. I particularly like the abstraction around the birds with the extra ripples from their movement. In the largest view, the birds do look just a touch soft. My suspicion is that this relates more to the fact that for a micro 4/3rds system the 300mm lens is the equivalent of 600mm on a full frame system. You don’t say if you were using a tripod, but with that much magnification even at 1/1250 s, handholding can be a problem. If this view is cropped, that magnifies the issue.

3

Thanks Mark much to consider and learn from your note.
Was not using a tripod – thought the high shutter would save me. Now always least a monopod at Owens lake.
The 300 I mentioned on the crop sensor is an 80-150, which gives me the 300, so the softness is unavoidable I suspect. That’s a great lens when you’re close!
I absolutely want the mountains in the story to give a sense of place but now that you mention it they don’t do that as well as a backdrop of dikes and pumps would have!