# Midas Touch **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [November 24, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846 "2025-11-24T19:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_Parker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/gary_parker/32/67406_2.png) [@Gary\_Parker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Gary_Parker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846/1 "2025-11-24T19:55:41Z")
![GSP08309.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/0/9/09ff04d31652e4dad2ca8d2e661ff86b788c44f5.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description I was stalking this blue when a fisherman walked up and spooked him. I tried to react quickly, but the pic is a little soft on the bird’s head. I loved how the wingtips are just touching the water with the morning sun coming up. ### Specific Feedback General feedback on content, quality, and composition. ### Technical Details Sony A7RV 230mm 1/2000 f11 ISO 1600 * * * ### 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: ---
**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:** [November 24, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846/2 "2025-11-24T23:10:13Z")
Very cool water, Gary. I’m trying to figure out why the heron is so brilliant a blue-was it somehow in shadow? Great title for this image. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Parker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/gary_parker/32/67406_2.png) [@Gary\_Parker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Gary_Parker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846/3 "2025-11-24T23:33:30Z")
Thanks Dennis. I struggled with the color of the bird as well. At least until I isolated it in Photoshop and put it against a white background where it was more grey. I think it has to be a trick of the mind because the gold is so present in the photo. If I try to remove some of the blue, it turned white instead of grey. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846/4 "2025-11-25T16:02:26Z")
Hi Gary, love the color of the water and the heron’s pose with the wingtips touching the water. I took the image into PS and using an HSL adjustment layer was able to desaturate the cyan and the wings turned gray. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Parker](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/gary_parker/32/67406_2.png) [@Gary\_Parker](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Gary_Parker)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846/5 "2025-11-25T17:44:14Z")
Thanks @Allen_Brooks . I am in NO way competent in PS. I didn’t think of the HSL adjustment layer, but it seemed to work well. Thanks again! ---
**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:** [November 26, 2025, 3:00am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846/6 "2025-11-26T03:00:33Z")
Hi Gary, nice catch of the heron flying away - the wing tip in water adds a nice touch. Love the faint shadow of the bird in the water. The colors are so dramatic I’d say this is more of a purely artistic representation which is fine. ---
**Author:** ![armin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/armin/32/82262_2.png) [@armin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/armin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/midas-touch/48846/7 "2025-11-28T12:49:27Z")
Vision and Purpose: Conceptual: Emotional Impact and Mood: Composition: Balance and Visual Weight: Depth and Dimension: Color: I like the complementary colours. The herons really pops out that way. Lighting: Processing: Technical: