Marbled-Godwit and the crab updated story and photo

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Updated

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Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

I have been spending the week in California going birding. On my 3rd day in the early morning, I came across a few of these birds and sat on the sand close to the water waiting for them to get closer. I know they are digging in the sand, but forgot about sand crabs, which I played with as a child. These poor birds have to work hard because most of the time they come up empty. My waiting paid off.

Updated Story, The other photo I had was one just as the bird pulled the crab out of the sand. He dropped the crab a number of times and picked it up again and dropped it. My guess is the bird was trying to get all the sand off. Here is a photo of him just as he pulled the crab from under the same

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Specific Feedback

I was close to these birds and wondered how important getting the entire bird is when focusing on them looking for food is better than most of it, as seen here. I have the photo series of the crab going all the way up to his mouth. Is the location of the crab important for a better photo? It was 7:30 in the morning, how was the lighting. I am trying to get better with bird photography so any tips useful

Technical Details

Canon r5 ii with rf 200-800 at 717mm f/9 1/2500 ISO 800. HH I think I needed more DOF, used Photo AI to help fix some of the soft areas. I am thinking I need a f/4 500 or 600 to help.

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2

The light looks great, Dean, and the color and details look good. The action with the crab elevates the image. Ideally, I’d like to see more of the light on the head and the entire bird. Also, ideally, I’d like the pose more parellel to the viewer than looking away, but those darn birds rarely seem to cooperate. Nice low angle ; sitting in the sand, patiently waiting, paid off.

3

Thanks for the feedback @Allen_Brooks. I posted a update to show him brighter. Also added to the story as well

4

The image with your updated story would be my favorite, Dean. I like the pose-better eye contact with the viewer-and there’s more light on the face and it still shows the feeding activity. Also, I like the smoothness and color of the background in this image.

5

Thanks for the feedback Alan. It’s a reminder to focus on the subject. The crab is not the subject. It looks better in the previous picture, but the bird is the subject.

6

HI Dean. I like both images a lot. I think you caught a great set of actions and although I don’t know what the others look like, I could see a triptych of this actions. Light and detail are fine. The one issue I might have is that the framing feels a bit awkward. I think that’s because of the bit of background showing at the rear of the bird, which makes it look as though it weren’t a purposeful decision. Perhaps a squarish crop like the below might be an alternative.

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7

HI Dean
Nice acton, detail and lighting. Not seeing the framing of the bird, it’s hard to tell, if a wider angle would work better. Nice work.
Peter