The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
The Siskin mob moved elsewhere almost in toto, so I wandered down to a wildlife refuge Wednesday. This young Red-tailed Hawk was one of the more cooperative subjects. Quite a distance away, so I didn’t try cropping tight. I liked the way it was peeking between the branches here and, to me, the twigs are so dense that they form almost a texture and don’t really distract from the subject.
Specific Feedback
Is this too busy for your taste? Any suggestions on emphasizing the hawk more, or should I even do so?
Technical Details
Sony A1, FE 200-600 + 1.4 TC @ 840 mm, beanbag on car window, f/9, 1/2500, iso 6400. Noise reduction with DxO, processed in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 5688x3936, Increased microcontrast on the bird and brought up the brightness a trifle. I really emphasized the eye because it’s so small in the image and was essential to what attracted me to this composition.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
If you wanted to crop it tighter you could give this a try … I have had some success using either the Super Resolution in Lightroom (Photo menu and then enhance) or Topaz Photo AI if you have that to increase the pixel count of an image first and then crop. My experience is sometimes it works well and sometimes it does not, but if I want to crop a lot I frequently give it try.
I think you could have it both ways – this is a very nice environmental shot, but when I enlarge it I totally love the way he is peering through the branches. I think a big crop could also be a very successful image. With that camera you could crop to 10%!
Hi Dennis, interesting image that tells a story of a day out in the field. I think this crop works fine to tell that story. Subject is well placed in the frame. Looks like you have the sharpness to crop in a bit tighter if you wanted.
Dennis, I’m in favour of the crop idea. I think that it would focus the picture more on the peeking birds eye, which then gives emphasis to the many branches in the foreground… if that isn’t contradictory
I think the key to the image is the sense the hawk is peering between the branches, so the cropped imaged does emphasize this. On the other hand, I do like the more open, environmental sense of the original-it gives the feel of walking into this scene and spotting the hawk.
