Graphical gannets

Image Critiques
1

Original - _Y6A1251-2_1920.jpg
Original - _Y6A1251-2_1920.jpg1920×1536 1.22 MB

More nest material

I love you. Yes, I know.
I love you. Yes, I know.1920×1920 2.3 MB

I love you. Yes, I know.

What kind of lens are you using?
What kind of lens are you using?1920×1536 793 KB

What kind of lens are you using?

I am the most striking one of the whole colony!!!
I am the most striking one of the whole colony!!!1280×1920 720 KB

I am the most striking one of the whole colony!!!

Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical

About This Image

A few more images from my trip to Helgoland, a cliff island on the North c coast of Germany. Gannets are ‘graphical’ birds. High key pictures almost generate themselves. But also their very attentive behaviour for their partners is wonderful to watch.

Feedback Requested

Of course, I have many more pictures, which I will most probably post in due time, but feel free to make all the suggestions you can about these ones. I am especially interested in your feedback on the high key pictures. How could these be improved?

Technical Details

Image 1
Camera: Canon EOS R6
Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Focal length: 195mm
Shutter speed: 1/8000s
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 250

Image 2
Camera: Canon EOS R6
Lens: RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
Focal length: 432mm
Shutter speed: 1/1000s
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 640

Image 3
Camera: Canon EOS R6
Lens: RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
Focal length: 432mm
Shutter speed: 1/125s
Aperture: f/14
ISO: 640

Image 4
Camera: Canon EOS R6
Lens: RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
Focal length: 455mm
Shutter speed: 1/125s
Aperture: f/13
ISO: 640

2

Very nice series Xavier. Love each look of these gannets and the interaction / portraits. In the first image, I could see removing the lower cut off birds and adding more space on left and top for the incoming flyer. I think the bird with nesting material tells the story best alone without the partial birds on the bottom. I like the high key look in the last two images even though the right top of the bird in the third image gets kind of lost due to the bright background. I’m wondering what a slightly less bright background would do for the third image.

A fine series well seen and taken. These birds are quite photogenic.

3

I got some big smiles from these, Xavier – they are photogenic subjects for sure! Good points from @Allen_Sparks. In the third one, I’d consider lightening the vegetation in the LL corner.
I look forward to seeing more of these fascinating things!