The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
These nesting Great Blue Herons were setting up a new home at the Bolsa Chica Preserve in Southern California. I love how the Pal tree is framed against the blue sky and the birds are framed in the branches.
Specific Feedback
General composition. Is having only half of the tree crown OK? Any other comments are very welcome and appreciated.
Technical Details
This is from several years ago. Canon 60D, f5.6, 1/5000s, iso 400, -0.7 ev, 100-400 lens at 400 mm.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Interesting scene, Ed. The textures are outstanding. I like your choice of composition. You could also crop out the second bird and have a cleaner scene perhaps, but by including it you did well to find the right balance here, IMO.
Nice to see you posting again, Ed. I do like the original post, though the issue of the left bird being in the shadows with the eye not showing, is where it falls a little short. If it had given you enough head turn to show the eye, I’d stick with the original. As is, I like Gary’s crop, though if you have the pixels, I find the dark shadows along the bottom of that crop a bit bothersome, and since I’m not a huge fan of square crops, I think I’d pare a little more off the bottom.
The basic composition with the palm fronds framing the bird is just gorgeous, so I think it’s just a matter of tweaking things.
Hi Ed, nice to see you posting. I like your original composition giving a good sense of the expansiveness of the plant providing a perch for both birds. We can see the eye of the bird on the right while the left bird provides another interesting element even if the head turn is not ideal. Very interesting image. Well seen and taken.
