Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
I saw these birds wading at the state park pond I have been visiting. I rarely see snipe so this was a treat.
Any. The positioning and reflections provided a bit of interest to me.
Canon R7, 400mm f4 DO IS II, 1.4x extender III, monopod
ISO 800, f6.3, 1/3200s
What immediately caught my attention was the softness and color of the water. I could see emphasizing this more with a crop off the top. The birds facing opposite directions makes for a dynamic composition. Reflections are an added bonus and the snipe in the water is a great catch. Good one.
Allen, I like this. Beautiful reflections and colors. I also like that they, being two different kinds of birds, are back to each other. It’s like they can feed in the same pond but they aren’t going to associate with each other. Nicely done.
This is cool, Allen. Great to catch both birds in the same frame and the way they’re facing in opposite directions really works. I also like the fall reflections in the water.
Well seen, Allen. Lucky you to get that nice water reflection too! Ordinarily I take umbrage with two subjects in the frame, especially when separated with such distance, as I feel it creates a ping-pong effect with the eye going back and forth to each as they have equal visual weight. Yet this one surprised me! I like that there are just the two, because they are facing away from each other, and that creates a story that they are sharing the space but not interacting. I think too because the reflections are so lovely that we have 4 birds to look at, and that keeps the eye moving around a bit. Really nice!
This is a very dynamic image having two species sharing the same pond and wanting nothing to do with each other. It’s almost like a standoff or a quick draw contest. The water color and softness add a lot to this image as do the reflections. Both birds are on the focal plain so both are sharp. Nothing you can do about it but the only drawback is the upper portion of the frame where the water turns murky. It is a minor distraction but not a deal breaker.
