The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
There is no better way to spend an hour on the Chobe River in Botswana than with a camera and a troop of baboons enjoying life on the river bank. There was so much going on, and finding the perfect moment was challenging because there were so many. This mother was peacefully nursing her newborn. Then she put the baby down, and trouble showed up.
Specific Feedback
All impressions and suggestions are appreciated.
Technical Details
This was taken with my Sony a6400 and a 100-400 lens with a 1.4 teleconverter. It was mounted on a gimble that allowed for 360-degree access to the scene.
I processed it in LR and PS using TK9 luminosity masking and actions.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
What a great story, experience and set of images to tell the story! I felt there could be a little more emotion captured in the first image. To try and do this I expanded the upper part of the image in PS and then cropped the image to make the momma’s face and expression dominate the image. I also brightened her eyes a little (but maybe too much). Please share your thoughts. I hope I am not destroying your vision for the story.
Alexandeer, you observations are much appreciated. Yes, I am trying to tell a story. It is interesting you were pompted to add more at the top. I already had added just a bit more. I had also brightened her eyes. In another edit of the same picture I had made her eyes brighter, but wondered if I had overdone. Now I am wondering if it would be even more powerful if I croped down to just below the top of her head to really emphasize her face.
Thanks to @Willemd I reworked the mother & child to highlight the feelings I had when I first saw her with her child. There was an intesity in her gaze that seemed to look straight at me. There was a fierceness in it. I felt the strength of her relationship to the baby she held to her breast. The tighter crop says it as I felt it. I welcome others reactions to the variety of the crops.
Barbara, both of the views of mom and baby look good. The space at the top and grass below in the original feels comfortable and shows the pair in their environment. The tight look at the two in the cropped view does focus attention nicely on the two while the subtle dodging of mom’s eyes lets her expression play a stronger role. The cropped view has more emotional value. The trouble coming in post looks like a good view of how youngsters of most species play.
Thanks, @Mark_Seaver and @freddie for the feedback. I favor the tighter crop. The fun part about watching this troupe was the way the young ones play. More than once, the very little ones would start screaming when the play seemed to be getting rough. An older juvenile or adult would come to the rescue and pull off the attacker by any handy appendage.
