Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I spent the day at Whitewater Draw with the Sandhill Cranes sitting as low to the water as I could. There were many of these cranes and lots of snow geese, I went on a weekday and only a dozen of observers were there. This place does get packed with cars, quiet was nice.
Specific Feedback
I am still new to focusing on birds and learning a lot. I want to show the environment that the bird is at, but also want to get the bird the main subject. On the bottom of the photo, would it be ok if there is less room below the bird. Is the reflection of the wing look ok, more on that in the technical notes
Technical Details
Canon R5 ii with RF 200-800 and a 1.4x extender. 840mm f/22 1/2500 ISO 4000. HH. I used ON1 Photo Raw to expand the canvas bottom and left. It tries to create what is missing, in this part of the wing. I usually remove it and put what should be there, water in this case. However, this time I left it for feed back. Comments and suggests welcome
Great looking detail on the bird. The zoomed in image is amazing. You have captured it very well!
If this were mine, and I wish it were. I wouldn’t be taking any mor off the bottom. In fact, I might add to it, just a smidge. I would also add canvas to the right-hand side. It just feels a little tight. The wing reflection does nothing for the image IMO and it could be gone without too much trouble. I’m on the fence with grasses in the BG. They do add to the habitat, but for me, just a little distracting. Maybe move them?
Hi Dean. I’m with @Glenys_Passier on this one. With all the room above the bird and the top view of the wing, It looks like you’re really looking down on the bird even though you stated that you were as low as possible. Getting the bird higher in the frame,even if only by chopping some off the top, would help alleviate that illusion. I could take or leave the wing reflection, but if you do add more canvas to the bottom, the software might start to make it look weird, so you just have to experiment.
Very nice detail in the crane and excellent action.
Hi Dean
I just think the photograph needs a little more room to breathe. The detail is good.
Peter
I agree with more room in front, Dean, and maybe more room in back with there is more splash to be seen. Maybe a pano crop?
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Thanks for the feedback, @Allen_Brooks, @Dennis_Plank , @Glenys_Passier , @Peter_Morrissey. I changed the ratio to 2:1 and added the fill needed for the expanded canvas. PS Expand canvas with content fill worked best. I focused primarily on the crane and removed the reflection of the wing.
Dean, this is such a lovely shot of the crane, but feel there can be a little more done, if it’s within you ethics to do so.
The reflection is what it is and for me, doesn’t add anything to the image. So, your choice. I tried a version with a little more on the bottom and the right hand side. and still have plenty of room in front. A little help from Generative Fill on the top. Although you had some nice reeds of your own to play with.
I do like the crop, Dean, but I think I agree with @Glenys_Passier that it took too much off the top when you tried to get below the weed reflection. I really like what her example did, though I dont think I’ve used generative fill more thhan a couple of times to see what it might come up with.
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This has been a discussion and it has been valuable for me, @Glenys_Passier and @Dennis_Plank. I tried another canvas extension. This time I used ON1 Photo Raw 2026 using Stability AI. Interesting enough it added some ground below the crane. There was some land below it when flying but I was framed above it a bit
Mmm. When I look at all three together, your first (original post) seems the best crop to me. Just add more below and a slice on the right hand side.
The latest one, with the ground below just doesn’t work for me. If it were cloned out or replaced with water, I think it would look better.
The grasses in your first image are quite appealing and certainly worth keeping.
