# Lawrence's Goldfinch (+revised) **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, birds\ **Created:** [September 25, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368 "2026-09-25T23:32:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![David\_Schoen](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_schoen/32/368_2.png) [@David\_Schoen](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Schoen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/1 "2026-09-25T23:32:04Z")
## Revised Version ### Revision 1 (latest) ![Revision 1 - LGF newest 02337_DxO copy 4ab copy 5.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/3/5/35fc7d3e81586b87a3d43eed65209dc362a26f90.jpeg) **What changed:** added a vignette _Added after receiving feedback from the community._ * * * ## Original Version ![Original - LGF newest 02337_DxO copy 4ab copy 4.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/5/1/512a1b7956e11baf116e61cb1faaa9214cce467d.jpeg) **Critique Style:** Standard 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 Another oldie but goodie from San Diego, taken in 2021. I had never seen this species previously until I got to Southern California. This one was taken at a workshop I went to and was in the backyard of a former and prolific photographer from NPN. This one was taken in San Diego in 2021 and was in the backyard of a former NPN member and frequent contributor. The background was pretty splotchy and I did use some other software products besides Photoshop and Lightroom to mellow out the background a bit . I recently picked up a copy of DxO PhotoLab 10 and did use some AI tools and applied them to the backgrounds. Final processing in Photoshop . ### Feedback Requested Anything that’ll help me as a photographer improve my skills ### Technical Details Camera: SONY ILCE-1 Lens: Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter Focal length: 560mm Shutter speed: 1/2500s Aperture: f/6.3 ISO: 1600 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 4:35am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/2 "2026-09-26T04:35:40Z")
I like the pastel colors of this shot David–a lot. A very relaxing mood. The bokeh is a big part of that and compliments the bird well. You might want to try and use a dark vignette on the edges of the shot ever so slightly. I am thinking it might make the bird pop even better. But that is just something to try. Its a wonderful shot. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Zablotny](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_zablotny/32/3919_2.png) [@Jim\_Zablotny](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Zablotny)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/3 "2026-09-26T11:35:00Z")
The colors of subject, BG, and perch go well together. Overall, the post processing looks good and you may want to increase clarity a bit to pull out more feather detail. There’s a little bit of haloing evident around the perch in some spots of the image. Lawrence’s goldfinches are one of the best-looking birds in North America. Well done…Jim ---
**Author:** ![system](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/system/32/86481_2.png) [@system](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/4 "2026-09-26T19:59:22Z")
The original poster added a [revised version](#post_1) of their image. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/5 "2026-09-26T21:27:47Z")
Excellent image, David. Nice job on the background and the bird and perch look fine to my eye. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/6 "2026-09-27T01:35:43Z")
Very nice image David. Quite a beautiful bird. Good job on the background. A fine perch as well. The vignette in the revision looks good to me. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/7 "2026-09-27T17:10:29Z")
A fine pose, perch, and background all come together to really show off this beauty. ---
**Author:** ![Huw\_Thomas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/huw_thomas/32/87850_2.png) [@Huw\_Thomas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Huw_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/8 "2026-09-27T21:07:20Z")
Lovely pic and congratulations on the EP Huw ---
**Author:** ![David\_Schoen](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_schoen/32/368_2.png) [@David\_Schoen](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Schoen)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 3:44am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/9 "2026-09-28T03:44:17Z")
Thanks to all who have been involved with commenting, @Allen_Sparks @Huw_Thomas @Dennis_Plank @Jim_Zablotny @Steve_Buffington ---
**Author:** ![timothy3](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/timothy3/32/85670_2.png) [@timothy3](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/timothy3)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 11:43am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/10 "2026-09-28T11:43:33Z")
Great photo! I really like the perch and the colors. Really nice background. I do like the vignette in the revision 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/11 "2026-09-28T15:56:14Z")
Regarding Revision 1: Beautiful look at the goldfinch, David. The perch has some nice complementary colors and the background lets the bird stand out. I think I prefer the original, as I like the softness of the background, which comes across more in the original. ---
**Author:** ![Karl\_Zuzarte](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@Karl\_Zuzarte](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Karl_Zuzarte)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/12 "2026-10-01T22:27:46Z")
Lovely pallet of colors - nice soft background - revision good choice I would try getting a little more pop in the subject ---
**Author:** ![David\_Schoen](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_schoen/32/368_2.png) [@David\_Schoen](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Schoen)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/13 "2026-10-01T22:59:44Z")
Thanks @Karl_Zuzarte @Allen_Brooks ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/lawrences-goldfinch-revised/52368/14 "2026-10-02T04:53:18Z")
Very nice revision David. And congrats on the Editors Pick.