The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical
About This Image
Many widow skimmers have emerged and quite a few end up getting captured by our nesting Eastern kingbirds. This freshly emerged individual was hiding beneath a leaf near the Duck pond and was concealed from the hungry horde of kingbirds.
Feedback Requested
The focus and comp are OK. I have a vertical grass stem that emerges from the front of the head and would like any suggestions on how to get rid of it or make it less obvious without obscuring the setae on the front of the head. I softened up thje OOF grass leaf on th LH side of the subject’s thorax.
Technical Details
Tripod/handheld: Handheld
Focus method: Auto
Filters:
Technique:
Conditions: Breezy with rain
Beautiful shot of this critter, Jim. Sounds like our place except it’s assorted swallows and bluebirds gobbling up the insects. I don’t think I managed to get it perfect, but I tried the fancy healing brush in PS (the bandaid with a couple of stars) after duplicating that section of the image and putting it on a separate layer for preservation. I was surprised at how much detail it preserved in the setae. It wasn’t 100% but unless you zoom in it looks pretty good.
I’m not sure how their algorithms work, but I’ve found that if you start your selection from the far end and come toward the area you want to preserve, it seems to work a little better-but that’s just hearsay-I haven’t run tests.
Jim: @Dennis_Plank beat me to the punch and Dennis, I think you’re right about applying that brush. I tried using the remove tool and spot healing with OK results and then just did some simple cloning with reduced opacity and flow. I noticed your work and think it turned out better. As for the image itself, what a spectacular capture of the eyes especially along with all the other fantastic details. It seems almost too pretty to eat but I guess if you’re a kingbird you’re not interested in its aesthetics. Really well done. >=))>
Jim, for me the details in the eyes and wings carry the day, so I barely notice that dark strip in the background. You were pushing the magnification with your rig and it worked out well.
Jim, an excellent shot of this DF. I love the composition you chose. He looks like he is lifting weights! Wonderful details in the eyes especially. I’m amazed at how close they will let us get sometimes to get shots like this, especially since they are on the food chain for so many prey.
