Hummingbirds - New Series Order, and New edit on No. 4

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Nesting-Hummer-AZSon-TDS.jpg
Nesting-Hummer-AZSon-TDS.jpg2000×1500 1.11 MB

Nesting Hummingbird

Hovering-Anna-TDS.jpg
Hovering-Anna-TDS.jpg3880×3104 1.68 MB

Hovering Hummingbird

BolsaHummerFemaleTDS.jpg
BolsaHummerFemaleTDS.jpg1488×2000 904 KB

Golden Hummingbird

Broadbill-Web
Broadbill-Web2000×1406 1010 KB

Edit No. 2

Broadbill-Web.jpg
Broadbill-Web.jpg2000×1406 994 KB

Broad-Billed Hummingbird - Original

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

This is a series of hummingbirds collected over the last several years from the Huntington Gardens in CA, Madera Canyon and the Arizona/Sonora Desert Museum in AZ.

Specific Feedback

Crops, clarity, colors, impact, etc? Thanks for your input.

Technical Details

  1. Canon 7DMii, f8, 1/1600s, iso 800, 560 mm
  2. Canon 60D, f5.6, 1/6400s, iso 400, -1EV, 400 mm
  3. 60D, f6.3, 1/1600s, iso 400, -1EV, 400 mm
  4. 60D, f10, 1/100s, 400 mm

All run through Topaz denoise.

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2 Likes
2

Very good detail in all four of these, Ed.

A nice bit of wing blur in the hovering one and I love the coordinated background in the second.

The Broad-billed is really cool but the broken off branch to the right is awful bright. That kind of thing is hard to deal with and make it look natural. It reminds me of Costa Rica where they have a tendency to lop the side branches of their perches off with a machete-and that’s where the birds always want to be.

The nesting bird is excellent.

3

Ed- great series! All are good, and the one on the nest is just exceptional!
I agree, with #3, that all the branches could be burned a bit.
Fine catches!

4

Hi Ed
Thank you for the Hummingbird slide show, very nice.
Peter

5

Thank you @Dennis_Plank, @SandyR-B and @Peter_Morrissey. I tried to clone a new branch on top of the bright branch in the broad-billed hummingbird image, but it came out a different color from the original.

6

I really like all of these shots. How lucky to have found a nest!

7

Thank you @Dave_Douglass. I’ve actually found several nests over the years in our backyard, one in a redwood tree, one in an avocado tree, one recently in our sweet pea bush and this one was at the AZ/Sonora Museum in Tucson. My son also found several at his house. They usually let you know if you are close and will dive bomb you to try to get you away from it.

8

Really nice series Ed. Love the nesting bird. What a great find and fine capture. Burning down the branch in the last image could be an improvement.

9

Thank you @Allen_Sparks. I gave it another shot at cloning the branch on the fourth image to reduce the glare. I think this is an improvement, but it could probably use more work. Please see above.

10

Hi Ed, cloning the branch may have some merit but I see some repeating patterns in the branch now. Wondering if burning it some would also help.

11

Thank you @Allen_Sparks. Burned and edited.

1 Like
12

Congrats on a fine series and EP - that nest. especially, is exceptional!

1 Like
13

Congrats for the EP. I like the hummingbird on its nest. She looks like she’s ready for a nap, while keeping her eye on you. Awesome series…Jim

14

Thank you @Jim_Zablotny. I appreciate your kind comments.

15

Ed: congratulations on the EP and your excellent series. I particularly liked the the bird in its nest.

16

Thank you very much @Richard_Sandor. I appreciate your comments.