Male Wood Duck in Breeding Plumage

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

-20241108-_A1_9011-McLane Creek-ARW-Edit
-20241108-_A1_9011-McLane Creek-ARW-Edit2048×1456 1.6 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

The first Wood Duck I encountered the other day. I liked the transition between the rippled area and the smooth water that he was skirting.

Specific Feedback

The smooth water had some very bright stem reflections, so I had to do some cleanup there to mellow them out-did it work?

Any other issues?

Technical Details

Sony A1 FE 200-600 + 1.4 TC @ 840 mm, monopod, f/11, 1/640, iso 3200. Noise reduction with DxO PureRaw4, processed in LR & PS CC. Cropped to 6504x4624. Taken on November 8th at 9:13 a.m.

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:
2

I like this Dennis. Water and bird looks good to me. Nice colors, detail, and rich blacks. Great look at that red eye. The transition of ripply water to smooth adds to an interesting composition.

3

Hi Dennis
The Wood Duck looks great, the eye contact and ripples really sell the photograph. The very small nit I have is the large green plants in the upper frame.
Peter