Incoming + B&W

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

For those who wondered about a B&W version…

RJB_0488 copy 3XN.jpg
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RJB_0488 copy 3XN copyBW
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Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

Wood Stork, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Boca Raton, Florida
Wood storks are elegant (IMO) when flying, but very clumsy when landing. They usually just crash land into some wooded area, with little finesse.
They also don’t seem to comprehend their size or weight, and aim for too-small branches - as here.
This fellow tried to grab the thin branch, missed, and fell off.

Specific Feedback

Too much dead space on the right, or ok?

Technical Details

A re-worked image for a publication
D800

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2

I really like the moment you captured of this guy. I’m fine with the cropping. Did you look at it in all B&W? Well done.

3

Cool image, Sandy. I think you could lose some of the space on the right. I don’t know what kind of publication you’re thinking of, but space is usually at a premium in such things, even if it’s just your own.

The bird has a very painterly look to it-do you remember if you used any “creative” filters on it? It looks much more respectable than any wood stork images I’ve managed!

4

They gave me the pixels x pixels they wanted, and this conforms. They also wanted open space on the right for text - just don’t know exactly how much yet, but it can easily expanded.
A small touch of Fractalius here, that I should have mentioned - to make him more “respectable!” and a little goofy :slight_smile:
They are such clumsy things, they always make me laugh. I missed getting him/her falling off the branch because I was laughing so hard.

5

Hi Sandy,

Looks good. That branch looks a little on the light side for this wood stork. Tghey must like dangerous landings. Well done with the high key comp…Jim

6

Hi Sandy
I keep telling people how talented the photographers are on Nature Photographer Network and this photograph just proves my point.
Peter

7

Nice catch Sandy. Great pose you caught and I like the high key look. Nice exposure on the whites and blacks. Fine details. Well done.
I have no images of this species so this is a treat to see.

8

B&W version added…

9

:rofl: How funny! We don’t have them here.

Since you have a specific purpose for this (a publisher wants space for text), the open space on the right is appropriate. If it were a stand-alone image, maybe a bit off the right would be warranted.

The color version has a bit more interest to me because I can see a bit of blue in the sky. Maybe bringing down the blue channel in your b&w conversion would bring that little bit of sky texture back in.

I love the way the splayed out feet mimic the scraggly branches!