Hummingbird Hawkmoth (+revised)

Huw_Thomas · October 1, 2026, 10:00am

Revised Version

Revision 2 (latest)

What changed: Flower moved, a bit more micro contrast and some gentle colour grading

Revision 1

What changed: One leaf removed and few highlights toned down

Added after receiving feedback from the community.

Original Version

Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive

About This Image

In garden this morning, camera in flash mode when this chap buzzed me
Right place Right time I guess

Version 2

Version 3

Feedback Requested

Suggestions welcome.
Preference?

Technical Details

Camera: A7v
Lens:FE100macro GM x2TC
Focal length:200
Shutter speed:1/250
Aperture:f/22
ISO:6400
Flash:yes manual 1/16

Bill_Fach · October 1, 2026, 12:14pm

Huw: Wonderful captures all but #1 is far and away my favorite overall although the extreme close up is really cool as well. On the first I would be sorely tempted to make the intruders on the right edge go away. I like the wing action on all of them. Great opportunity, great results. >=))>

Doug_Wilson · October 1, 2026, 2:40pm

I’m with @Bill_Fach on this one: i think Image 1 is definitely the most striking and I agree with cutting out the right side flowers. Beautiful colours and a perfect moment!

Steve_Buffington · October 1, 2026, 2:49pm

What an exotic animal this is for me. I have heard of them and seen a few pics, but mostly they are a rare sight for me. #1 is far and away my fav of this series. Fantastic capture.

On #1, I suggest toning down the hot spot on the flower he is feeding on, as well as the hot spot on the “intruder” on the right and the hot spot at the rear of the animal.

I personally like the framing that the intruders give. Perhaps you might want to try filling that empty gap from the feeding flower to the first intruder with a small sampling of the red flower and switching out the small darker intruder with a corner of the same red flower. To me, especially the smaller dark intruder takes my attention off the animal.

However, with that said, taking out the intruders as Bill suggested might be very nice. So I am having my cake and eating too.

Keith_Flood · October 1, 2026, 2:52pm

Huw, I don’t think I have ever seen that species of hummingbird, great capture showing the movement and yet having the head nice and still! I really do prefer this type of “action” image vs the “I caught you!” frozen image. I favor #1, really nice image!!!

system · October 1, 2026, 3:19pm

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

system · October 1, 2026, 3:23pm

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

Diane_Miller · October 1, 2026, 3:46pm

Wow --a gorgeous portrait! I don’t think these things stay still for long so you did a great job of composing and focusing. The eye grabs the viewer’s attention and the rest of the image is a strong setting. Somehow I never really thought of a moth as having a face, but this one does! And the wing blur is just the right touch. The removal of the petal on the right and the tonal changes are just the right touch --excellent image!

Dennis_Plank · October 1, 2026, 3:52pm

The close-ups are really cool, Huw, but I agree that the looser composition in the revised version works even better. I love the degree of blur in the wings and the minor adjustments you made to the original post have improved it considerably. Your garden draws some wonderful insects!

Marylynne_Diggs · October 1, 2026, 3:56pm

Wow! Nothing to add, but I wanted to say nice work here. I agree that the revision, without the additional flower petals, makes a wonderful image even better. That face!
ML

Huw_Thomas · October 1, 2026, 8:26pm

Thanks @Bill_Fach @Doug_Wilson @Steve_Buffington @Keith_Flood @Diane_Miller and @Dennis_Plank

Thanks for the wonderful comments and suggestions.

Isn’t nature in all its glory so wonderful.
All we have to do is make a half decent attempt to capture it!
Thanks++

Huw

system · October 2, 2026, 9:38pm

The original poster added a revised version of their image.

Mark_Seaver · October 3, 2026, 2:24pm

Skip to where you left off (post 11) Skip to last reply Skip to top

Skip to main content

Image Critiques ▾ Community ▾ Inspiration ▾ About ▾ Account ▾

Hummingbird Hawkmoth (+revised)

Image Critiques

macro-close-up
Create Post
- Image for Critique
- Project for Critique
- Weekly Challenge
- Start a Discussion
Home
Ask for Help

Hummingbird Hawkmoth (+revised)

Image Critiques

macro-close-up

22 views 10 likes 9 users

Next Topic

Oct 1

17h

post by Huw_Thomas 2 days ago

Huw Thomas Critique Guide 250+

6

Oct 1

Revised Version

Revision 2 (latest)

What changed: I don’t know what you think of this one from the same run?? I like its simplicity … and the way the moth is giving me the eye, Better than the revision or no??

I think Revision 1 is my favourite , but the one above is interesting if only for eye contact - be sure to zoom in!!

Revision 1

What changed: One leaf removed and few highlights toned down

Added after receiving feedback from the community.

Original Version

Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive

About This Image

In garden this morning, camera in flash mode when this chap buzzed me
Right place Right time I guess

Version 2

Version 3

Feedback Requested

Suggestions welcome.
Preference?

Technical Details

Camera: A7v
Lens:FE100macro GM x2TC
Focal length:200
Shutter speed:1/250
Aperture:f/22
ISO:6400
Flash:yes manual 1/16

22 views 10 likes 9 users

Critique Workspace

Open a dedicated workspace for your critique, with the image, request, and photographer’s notes close at hand — and optionally mark up the image with visual notes.

Start a Critique

post by Bill_Fach 2 days ago

post by Doug_Wilson 2 days ago

post by steve12 2 days ago

post by Keith_Flood 2 days ago

post by system 2 days ago

post by Diane_Miller 2 days ago

post by Dennis_Plank 2 days ago

post by Marylynne_Diggs 2 days ago

post by Huw_Thomas 1 day ago

post by system 17 hours ago

Share Bookmark Flag Mark unread

Start a Critique Reply

Normal You will be notified if someone mentions your @name or replies to you.

New & Unread Topics

Topic list, column headers with buttons are sortable.

There are 150 unread and 10 new topics remaining, or browse other topics in Image Critiques

Powered by Discourse

Your hub for refining nature photography skills. Expert critiques, discussions, and education elevate your craft. A community connecting creatives.

Community

Learning

Nature Vision Magazine

Privacy Terms and Conditions About

Topic Visible

Huw, I like both Rev 2 and Rev 1. The swinging wings are very eye catching. You’ve also got the eye and head nice and sharp. In Rev 2, The pano crop fits very well, but I’d suggest trying just a touch more room at the bottom (depending on what’s down there…). The fuzzy details in the Rev 2 flower have me grinning. Rev 1 shows the moth clearly. The flowers on the side are “interesting” addition. Cloning them out would make a “clean”, but very simple, view, so I like their presence, a bit of local desaturation would reduce how much attention.

Huw_Thomas · October 3, 2026, 8:34pm

Hi @Mark_Seaver - I dont know what you have included in your comments - its got lots of admin bits in it but I did slip to the bottom for the meat of it:

Huw, I like both Rev 2 and Rev 1. The swinging wings are very eye catching. You’ve also got the eye and head nice and sharp.

Thanks

In Rev 2, The pano crop fits very well, but I’d suggest trying just a touch more room at the bottom (depending on what’s down there…). The fuzzy details in the Rev 2 flower have me grinning.

The Fuzzy flower is not in the same plane as the in focus one - its a second flower stem closer again to the camera that just happened to be in the same straight line (barred flowers/in focus flowers/moth). No blurring shenanigans honest Its clearer in the whole raw image below

Rev 1 shows the moth clearly. The flowers on the side are “interesting” addition. Cloning them out would make a “clean”, but very simple, view, so I like their presence, a bit of local desaturation would reduce how much attention.

They have been a little desaturated - I will look at reducing the saturation further
The original /version 1 and version 2, and revision 1 are from the same burst just cropped differently.
Revision 2 is from a different burst and viewing angle, although the same group of flowers.
Thanks

Here’s the whole of rev2 for interest:

Huw

Mark_Seaver · October 3, 2026, 10:21pm

Yeah, something very strange happened with all of that admin stuff getting included and I couldn’t figure out how to delete it. It probably means that I made a weird keystroke. I did notify the help “line”, but nothing back yet.

system · October 4, 2026, 9:24pm

The original poster added a revised version of their image.