The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Female snail kite “kiting” - hovering - over a potential meal, the invasive apple snail. Snail kites are endangered., so all chicks are banded for tracking.
Lake “Toho” , Florida
Specific Feedback
is the dark wing too distracting?
Technical Details
D850
500mm
Exposure Time: 1/4000 sec
F Number: f/8
ISO Speed Ratings: ISO 640
Exposure Program: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Critique Template
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I look right past the near wing, Sandy. It helps that the feathers are splayed so widely, but even if they weren’t the face and eye pull the viewer in. A fine image.
Wonderful capture – the pose, the light and the sharpness. If you have the overhead (without too much noise) it could be worthwhile to see about lightening the darkest wingtip, but I assume you’ve probably done what you can. It’s certainly not a flaw. I could wish the head stood out a bit more but it’s somewhat camouflaged against the similar tones in the wing and probably not much can be done to separate them. Completely trivial concern!
Excellent detail; you really get a feeling of being up close to the kite. In the smaller image the head does seem a bit obscured, but not at all in the larger images.
I really like this action pose, and subject. Its head does blend. Have you considered selecting the head and gently burning it to pop it a little from the similar BG?
Hi Sandy
Looks like you are having a great photographic turn of Florida. ( I will be going to Delray, Florida on the 19th). I think the darker wing helps to frame the photograph. You could look at a local control point on the right wing to lower the highlights, I find my eye moving to that point. Nice wok.
Peter
Well. Goodness. Fantastic ‘in the life of a bird’ image. Such detail and sharpness.Even her talons are so precisely in focus! 1/4000, f/8 & ISO is only 640? Jeez. The dark wing frames it, as Peter said. And maybe some experimenting with ‘burning’ the head might bring it more contrast with the wing. But hey, that’s just nitpicky because it’s a wonderful image Sandy.
This is such a nice shot of this kiting activity and a beautiful bird Sandy. Your detail and colors are great, with an exceptional BG. I do think the head gets lost a bit from the rest of the body. I hope you don’t mind too much, but I downloaded it, selected just the head and shoulder area and darkened it a touch. See what you think.
@Ed_Williams
I never mind suggestions for an improvement - that’s why I post stuff! This IS better, and I’ll edit and re-post later this afternoon. Thanks!
