Heron's Breakfast - Updated

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

EXT--0017-2
EXT--0017-21400Ă—660 468 KB

EXT--0017.JPG
EXT--0017.JPG1334Ă—1050 729 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Just a Heron catching a fish around 8 am.

Specific Feedback

There was a lot of clutter in this photo, so I used super resolution in lightroom to increase the size and then did a serious crop. Does it look reasonable or is it just too much of a crop? I also reduced both the exposure and contrast of the background. Does it look natural? Is it sharp? Any other feedback appreciated.

Technical Details

image

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:
2

It looks plenty sharp Elizabeth-almost a bit too much in the heron’s plumage, but not bad. I like the look of mottled light on the heron. Since you cropped this significantly, I think a bit more room on the right side and possibly a bit less on the left would work a little better. With the crop you have, the heron is about to go through the side of the frame-it’s nice to give them enough room so they don’t look confined. Nice catch of the fish as well and the little bit of weed that came along with it is a nice touch. If you’re into cloning or other removal tools, I’d consider removing that grass stem that crosses behind the fish and the heron’s bill as I find it a bit distracting.

A very nice image.

1 Like
3

@Dennis_Plank Thank you - let me expand the image a little and sharpen a little less. On a lot of things I do clone, but I belong to a photography club and they have monthly competitions - to submit in the Nature category I need to leave it.

4

I belong to one also, but we aren’t a competition club (the only one in Western Washington that isn’t).

5

Its pretty low key competition. Last year I made it a goal to submit my allowed 3 each month and it really helped me improve.

I redid the image, I’ll add it above. Thanks for your input!

6

HI Elizabeth. The revised version went quite a bit further than I really meant and somehow the saturation and contrast got boosted quite a bit. Here’s more what I had in mind:

elizabeth-EXT--0017-2 copy
elizabeth-EXT--0017-2 copy975Ă—660 299 KB

I recropped your repost, reduced saturation and contrast quite a bit in the background and reduced them somewhat less in the bird and fish, trying to keep them fairly realistic yet make them pop from the background. Hopefully your rules allow that kind of manipulation.

1 Like
7

@Dennis_Plank Thank you - I’ll work on it some more!

8

Hi Elizabeth. Very nice look at the heron and the fish is a big bonus. Color and detail look good. I like the crop Dennis did and reducing the saturation. Could the background be blurred more?

1 Like
9

@Allen_Brooks Thanks for the feedback. I like what Dennis did also. I can definitely do that if I don’t submit this as a “nature” image in my clubs monthly competition. I think I need to get some clarification on the rules for that. I like your suggestion! Thank You

10

@Dennis_Plank I neglected to say what I huge improvement your version was! Thank you.