Hooded Warbler

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

20240425-Hooded Warbler-CR3-Edit.jpg
20240425-Hooded Warbler-CR3-Edit.jpg2161×1881 1.35 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

Another bird from Central Park and a lifer. The bird was backlit, so I had to bring the shadows all the way up on bird and branch. I did a fair amount of de-cluttering of the background . I like that little leaf.

Specific Feedback

Any thoughts appreciated especially regarding the background-I’m sure I missed something.

Technical Details

Canon R5; 100-500 with 1.4 TC at 700 mm; 1/800 at f10, -1/3 EV; ISO 500

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2

A lovely catch but unfortunate about the light. If there is any way to bring out detail in the eye it would be great.

There are darkish halos around the bird – front of the head and upper back – easy to fix with cloning from very nearby in Darken mode… Under the wing and at its tip will be more tedious. There is a light halo in the fine feathers below the wing and in the wing feathers just below the inner tail that will probably require lightening the adjacent area so it isn’t obvious.

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3

I had just shot a severely underexposed bird and hadn’t had the heart to delete it, and you challenged me to see how much it might be salvaged. Of course every exposure is totally different but if it’s of any use or encouragement, I’ve posted it.

Same camera, lens and TC, and I was at a higher ISO (1600).

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4

I think Diane covered the background issues Allen. A very nice shot of this beautiful warbler.

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5

Real different bird for me too. Nice work. Tough lighting situation. I think you handled it very well.

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6

Nice to get a hooded warbler down from the canopy. It is unfortunate about the backlit situation, but your post processing handled it well. The halos can be fixed and are not obvious until one looks for them around the head and back of the bird. If we had a time machine, I’m sure that you would have used a little fill flash to darken the BG and to provide supplemental light on the warbler. Unfortunately, we don’t have time machines, but striving for the perfect photo makes us all go out and do it again until we achieve perfection. Still a very nice photo and a darn good life bird for you too…Jim

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