Please share your immediate response to the image before reading the photographer’s intent (obscured text below) or other comments. The photographer seeks a genuinely unbiased first impression.
Questions to guide your feedback
Does this image fit with the title?
Does it resonate with you?
Does it invite contemplation or a longer look?
Other Information
Please leave your feedback before viewing the blurred information below, once you have replied, click to reveal the text and see if your assessment aligns with the photographer. Remember, this if for their benefit to learn what your unbiased reaction is.
Image Description
This is a composite of three images. Two images of the bottom of one of our birdbaths through a layer of water and ice taken a couple of days ago with lots of wacky filters and blending layers were combined for the background. The Bittern was extracted from an image taken on January 20, 2023, and added with through a Luminosity blending mode at reduced opacity (71% if I recall correctly).
Technical Details
So much processing that the technical details are pretty irrelevant. The background layers were taken with a Sony A7Rv and a 70-200 f/4 lens. The Bittern was taken with a Sony A1 and 200-600 lens all hand held.
Specific Feedback
Is there anything you would change in this image that you think would make it more effective? The intent was to evoke the feel of a fossil in the rock (probably instigated by recently watching the “Dinobirds” episode on Nova).
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
It took me a moment to sort out the shape of the bird.
“Does this image fit with the title?” Yes, although I don’t attach much significance to titles.
“Does it resonate with you?” Yes.
“Does it invite contemplation or a longer look?” Yes, up to a point. I think the mass of detail in the background would make it a hard image to live with.
Thanks, Don. That’s an interesting observation on the background. Something I’ll have to keep in mind as I’m enjoying developing this kind of image now and then.
Yes. Fits the title, but unsure where your thought process is heading
Yes. It resonates with me.
Yes. Absolutely. At first glance I thought the bird was a fox. A bit like a sterogram effect.
Sometimes it helps to apply a mild gaussian blur to a background layer. That mutes the detail and keeps it from upstaging the subject. I don’t think it would work here.
Title? Yes. The heron (?) appears to be preserved in resin from a long, long time ago.
Resonate? Yes.
Contemplation? Yes.
Longer look? Yes.
It appears that the heron is under very clear water and about to break the surface after attempting, but failing, to catch a bite. It looks a bit disgruntled.
Love it.
My immediate response…What the heck???
I saw the bird upon closer inspection. Well camouflaged. I’m assuming you layered it over the background.
I’m not sure of the significance of the title.
Really cool idea and effect.
Thanks @Chris. I was looking at it as a fossil in rock, but I don’t think that worked too well. I’ve played with a beach as the background layer and it works better, but I’m keeping this one in the back of my mind hoping to find the perfect second layer. Reducing the opacity of the Bittern layer and playing with blending mode options creates the effect.
Looking at the thumbnail I had the same thought as Youssef - I saw a canine head. Then when I looked at the large version, I thought of a fossil. So, in that regard your title works. I’m sort of with Don on the background. It’s quite busy and overwhelms the bird.
Are you looking for a semi-realistic fossil look? If so, I think the sense of depth in the bird doesn’t work. Or maybe I’m being too literal, being both a geologist and a photographer.
Sorry, Dennis, I didn’t make myself clear. The bittern has too much depth for me. Generally, these kinds of fossils (soft body parts) would be flattened during fossilization. I though maybe bringing up the darks in the bird body would do the trick, but it just looked weird.
This is fantastic! So much to love about this creation. I’ll be honest, I had the same reaction as others in that my first impression was a head of a canine (a real pretty one at that!) The bittern’s head, specifically the eye, doesn’t register immediately, but when it does, the image and message becomes more clear; then secondarily I can make out the outline, the legs, etc.
Then there’s the background. I first thought you’d stumbled upon a field of gold nuggets - although most likely fool’s gold… ha ha.
The combo of all, processing, etc. make for such a unique and successful presentation. Just for grins, I cloned out the eye which further emphasizes the head of a canine… but of course ruins what you’re going for.
I just love the “mineral” textures and colors, which almost, almost competes with the “fossil.”
