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Questions to guide your feedback
Does this photo hold the viewer interest for more than a second or two?
Other Information
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Image Description
I have been mulling with photographing these bats for a while. Capturing Illusions by Jiri Hrebicek re awakened this desire and I used some of his techniques to capture the bat. It also helps that these bats are large - around a 1m wingspan. I panned to track the bat, with a LED panel attached to my camera and using a second curtain flash.
Technical Details
Flash, LED panel, hand held, .3 second F8 ISO 6400, 350mm equivalent. Luck.
Specific Feedback
Does this photo hold the viewer interest for more than a second or two? Is it just some flight of my fancy?
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
It holds mine, Rob. The bit of noise you left in and the motion blurred image makes me think of the UFO craze. Also the title helps make it hold my attention longer trying to figure out what’s what in the image. Nicely done.
I think I see a bat in flight based on the shape of the wing and what might possible be a claw. I like the flowing motion of this one. Whatever shutter speed you chose is perfect in my opinion.
Love it! Bats are close to my heart. They are often misunderstood.
Black and white is the perfect choice for this image. The wings are moving and there is plenty to make out the head and ears.
I watched Jiri Hrebicek’s presentation. Most inspiring. I have found that photographing birds like this is a bit of a hit and miss for me…so well done!
My very initial gut reaction was to click on it to see more of it. The blurred “double” bat makes me think of gaussimer clothing from maybe a ballet or a ritual dance. It is airy and inviting. As I am invited in to the image, I like that I can see just enough details to see the bat - just like we see them in the night/evening sky - a fast moving blur, but I like the colors of this image reverse reality. The bat generally looking lighter against a dark sky. I am almost tempted to wonder what the image would look like if the background was one tiny bit whiter? Maybe make some of the upper right shadow pop just a tiny, tiny bit more, not much or it will lose some of its grace and mystery. But could be my monitor, I haven’t calibrated it in a while. Overall a beuatiful image that makes me feel free and open.
Thanks for your comments. I did try a negative of the image, but somehow it did not please me as much as the positive. I take your point about the sky being brighter - this photo is on my list to re take at this bat colony, some 10 minutes down the road. This time I will use a brighter spotlight and the camera on a tripod, set up on what seems to be their consistent flight path, again with second curtain flash. At that point I might be able to take a photo with an orange sky as these bats fly out at sunset.
