Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Photographs in South Africa in the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve. Came across a watering hole that was teaming with wildlife - many different bird species as well as hippos.
Specific Feedback
My goal in the post processing of this photograph is to desaturate the background adding depth to the subject.
Technical Details
Camera Settings: f6.3 / 1/1600 sec / ISO 8000
Sony A7CR - Sony 80-200mm w/ 2x extender
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1 Like
A nice environmental image, Stephen. Good processing; the heron does pop against the background. I also like all the vertical elements in the image.
1 Like
I love the way the heron is tucked away in the vegetation in this image, Stephen. Given the color contrast, I’m not sure about the need to desaturate the vegetation, but you’re the one with the original. When I zoomed in at the largest scale, I noticed that there was a slight lack of detail in the plumage which could have been caused by the noise reduction you used. I’m curious as to what software you used for that.
I love your composition in this image. I don’t know how big this species is, but the slight upward angle makes it appear enormous.
Welcome to the avian forum. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of your posts and your comments on other folks images. Please note that this site asks people to comment on at least two other posts for every one you post. It’s one of the things that makes this site work so well.
Hi Stephen, I like the environment shown here and how the bird stands out so well in it. Nicely composed with room for the bird to look into. Agree with Dennis on details and saturation.
A fine image.
Thank you for your feedback. The image is quite noisy and while the head is in focus and sharp, the rest of the body behind the reeds is “less sharp”. With regards to denoise. I was using Light Room Classic. I switched over to using my Topaz solution to remove the noise as well as sharpen the subject. That helped. Add more light/white to the subject and increasing the contrast on the subject in LRC also brought out some of the feathers. Unfortunately, though, it won’t be one of these avian photographs where the viewer can see the details of the bird’s features - based on the original.
Looking forward to photographing birds soon with a proper lens kit!
I really like the catch, enough vegetation in front to show, as Dennis pointed out , him imbedded in the reeds, but not hiding the subject.
1 Like
Hi Stephen,
I like this a lot. Perhaps it’s the noise reduction, but it has a very painterly effect. It reminds me of one of those posters from the 70s, not black light, but a tropical bird in context (google a poster of a bird in reeds or something, and you’ll see what I mean). I don’t mean that negatively at all. It’s part of what makes the image feel familiar but also interesting. The depth, the colors, the pose: it’s all there.
ML
Thank you so much Marylynne for for comments. Not negative at all. My approach in post processing is to identify the subject , make it stand out and direct the viewers eye to the subject, and either desaturate / clarify the background or use the background as a supporting subject. In this case, the reeds and grass were very interesting so as a result, I made sure that it too was on equal footing as the bird. If you look closely, the bird is actually on a nest.
This was taken in Sabi Sands in South Africa. We came upon a watering hole with hippos. What struck me though was the dense grass and reeds which seemed out of place and the diverse number of birds nesting in the grass/reeds.
Hi Stephen
The Heron is well framed and has great feather detail. Thank you for sending us this photograph.
Peter
1 Like
