Before:
After:
Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I’ve been fortunate to observe, from a safe distance, these GHOs. They are just about ready to fledge. I happened to catch them the other night with the sun setting and cooperatively facing towards the sun!
Specific Feedback
Am interested in knowing thoughts about the photo. Do you like it? Are the colors too vibrant? Is it a good animal portrait?
Technical Details
Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S TC-2.0x.
1/1600 sec. at f/13, ISO 8000, 1600mm.
Lightroom Classic, Topaz AI plug-in, minor adjustments to exposure, highlights, shadows, white, blacks.
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:
Thank you Sandy. Just more of the nest, but I’ll definitely play around with the composition.
A wonderful catch!! Colors look consistent with evening light but I usually feel I should back off it a little to give a slightly more true-to-color appearance. (Artist’s choice!) The youngster definitely feels too crowded on the right and I would suggest cropping or cloning the bright object coming in from the bottom in the left third of the frame. The BG is pleasingly OOF and not too distracting. I like that some of the colors on the branches match the owls. I would remove or redi=uce bright ness on the one bright piece just left of top center, right at the frame edge.
Wonderful opportunity – hope to see more, and a re-do!!
1 Like
Thank you Diane! Very helpful!!
Good suggestions from Sandy and Diane. Those eyes really draw you in and I like the richness of the reddish-brown colors from the setting sun. This also might work with a bit more room on the right and a tight crop from the left and bottom. Beautiful look at the owlets.
1 Like
Thank you Allen! Going to rework it!
Hi Christine. A very nice image of the owlets. The late evening light compliments the owlets, but also somewhat unfortunately catches some of the background branches/twigs (not much one can do about that in the field). If you’re not averse to a little cloning/burning/erasing, the worst of those twigs are fairly easily managed. Here’s a recrop and some cleanup to give you the idea. If you have more on the right, you might look at adding some there as the back of the head of that owlet is pretty close to the edge. You can just crop the same amount off the left when you do so. I don’t think you need much more canvas on that side, but a little bit would help. I cropped pretty severely from the bottom for two reasons. First to get rid of some distracting stuff down there, but secondly because when you have to shoot up at a fairly steep angle, t helps a lot if you put the subjects more toward the bottom of the frame as it creates an illusion that they’re closer to being level with the viewer (the reverse works if you have to shoot down at your subjects).
1 Like
Thank you Dennis. Like this rework!
I’ve posted a before and after. Also like Dennis’ rework. Thank you for your patience with me and comments!
HI Christine
Love the Owlets, I think your reframing works and the only branch at catches my eye is the one on the left side of the frame, as it hitts the Owlet just below the chin.
Peter
1 Like
Christine, your after post is really nice. Well balanced and with a strong composition. I don’t mind the large branch in the right hand corner at all.
So I have a Z8 and 800mm PF. How do you like the image quality with the TC-2.0x? Do you feel it loses some sharpness? Do you have the 1.4? How do you like it?
Cheers,
David
Really nice job on the repost, Christine. I’d probably either burn or remove a couple of small bright spots in the surrounding branches, but that’s all I can see to improve it.
1 Like
Thank you David. I have the TC 2.0 and use it with the 800 regularly for birds. It has a great reach and even at f/13, I can get great resolution. If I’m shooting birds, I’ll use 3D tracking and Sport VR to help with stabilization. I also use the converter on my 70-200mm. Helps bridge any gaps when my 400mm f/2.8 with built-in TC 1.4 is too much.
Any loss of sharpness is minor and can be corrected post-processing.
The RP is excellent! Another hint – if you like a new version more, add it above the original. Then it will be the one people see in the thumbnails and the one that will be considered for the EPs.
1 Like
