# Hoatzin **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [February 12, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748 "2026-02-12T14:30:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/1 "2026-02-12T14:30:51Z")
![hoatzin0126guyana49-1600px.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/f/c/fc7fd3d889ab602c8f64bec2cce82d35c91a99cf.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description Toward the end of my recent Guyana trip, we spent a morning floating down the Hamaica River near Georgetown. This is a good spot for birding, with one of the highlights being the unique Hoatzin. This is often referred to as the “Stinkbird” due to its odd digestive system (which is designed very much like that of a cow). Its appearance looks downright prehistoric, IMO. It’s a fairly large and noisy bird, and is pretty photogenic. Though this group portrait isn’t perfect (the shadowy patch in the corner bugs me, but I chose to preserve the tails in the crop), it’s not always easy to get them lined up together like this, and the wing pose was fun. ### Technical Details Canon R3 Canon 100-500mm ISO 4000 1/1000th f/7.1 * * * ### 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: ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/2 "2026-02-12T14:54:15Z")
Max: Photogenic indeed and in this presentation there’s a pretty high, “What am I seeing?” component. I’m still not sure what is happening with the open wing but what a marvelous display of feathers and I love the expressions and eyes of all three. Really nice find and a great capture. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/3 "2026-02-12T16:07:43Z")
Good work, Max, to get all three sharply in focus; excellent detail and that feather display is crazy. I agree with Bill, not really sure what I’m seeing-the anatomy looks very strange. The green background is really nice as well. ---
**Author:** ![framingtheuntamed](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/framingtheuntamed/32/80226_2.png) [@framingtheuntamed](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/framingtheuntamed)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/4 "2026-02-12T16:22:51Z")
Interesting! Had to do a double take to figure out where the head was! Birds are nice and sharp. Cool moment in time to capture! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/5 "2026-02-12T18:09:44Z")
> [@Allen\_Brooks](#): > > I agree with Bill, not really sure what I’m seeing-the anatomy looks very strange. The leftmost bird, likely a juvenile, is stretching its wings over its head. [I have another shot where the second bird is doing a similar stretch](https://photos.maxwaugh.com/gallery-image/Guyana-2026/G00005FaV43C1_GE/I0000QhvlTeK3Ajg/C0000wiGV6ZccNoQ), but it’s not as dramatic and probably doesn’t inspire a double-take like this one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GEGJr](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/gegjr/32/35906_2.png) [@GEGJr](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/GEGJr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/6 "2026-02-12T18:52:19Z")
Thanks for sharing Even though it’s a marvelous image, from an abstract perspective, I find it confusing. Am I seeing 2 or 3 birds? I first thought it was just 1 bird. I had to really look hard to see the second head and never found the third. Had I not read some of the other responses I would have never known there is a third bird. Nevertheless it is an interesting image. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/7 "2026-02-12T22:41:29Z")
Very cool, Max. I like this type of image and it would make an awesome puzzle. The corner doesn’t bother me at all. I had to go looking to find it. You must have been zoomed way to the low end to get this kind of dof at f7.1. If my memory serves me, those aren’t small birds and even at an angle like that it’s quite a stretch to get them all so crisp. Very well done. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/8 "2026-02-13T01:14:44Z")
> You must have been zoomed way to the low end to get this kind of [dof](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/npn-acronyms-and-terms/12151#depth-of-field) at f7.1. Dennis, that’s a good observation. Shot at 200mm. I was trying to stop down a bit to get them all sharp. Surprised 7.1 worked. I have a few in the series shot at f/16. ---
**Author:** ![Stephen\_Stanton](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/stephen_stanton/32/575_2.png) [@Stephen\_Stanton](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Stephen_Stanton)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/9 "2026-02-14T00:12:45Z")
What a wild shot, Max, amazing feather colors, and eye contact with all three . Took a minute to find the third head. But it certainly kept me in the image. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2026, 9:02am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/10 "2026-02-15T09:02:01Z")
It’s clearly doing its morning exercises, and the middle bird is not amused. Among other things, I like the different colors of the 3 eyes. Great to get them lined up like this. ---
**Author:** ![robert21](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@robert21](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/robert21)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/hoatzin/49748/11 "2026-02-17T23:03:51Z")
I really like the capture of the birds, but I think the green back round is too bright and to me is a distraction from the beautiful birds. I would have darkened and probably slightly blurred and desaturated the green back round. Bob Engle