Noisy Friarbird

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

144A1937-1.jpg
144A1937-1.jpg1332Ă—2000 1.21 MB

144A1980-5.jpg
144A1980-5.jpg1494Ă—2000 502 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

The grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) have almost finished flowering for this season and we was unsure if we would come home empty handed from a hike through a bushland reserve in the middle of Brisbane City, surrounded by major freeways. As luck would have it, we found one late flowering specimen; a magnet for honeyeaters. A short wait by the flower spike and we were blessed with the arrival of a lone Friarbird. Some would say they are quite grotesque with their distinctive naked black head and strong bill with prominent casque (bump) at the base, but I find them absolutely the most beautiful ruby-eyed little vultures with a song to mesmerise the soul. They are actually a large honey-eater!

Specific Feedback

All comments welcomed

Technical Details

First image: 1/800 f6.3 ISO3200 Hand Held (Centre Weighted Average) Usually, I use Evaluative
Second image: 1/600 f6.3 ISO3200 Hand Held (Centre Weighted Average)

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1 Like
2

I remember these guys! Funky-looking, but very endearing.
These are sweet shots - the first, especially, detail is perfect, a great pose, bright eye, and very cool plant. Creamy BG puts this over the top..
The second image has a wonderful pose , eye, look at the “ruff” , and excellent detail as well.
The BG might be a just bit bright - from here at least.
Two very nice images!

3

Thanks Sandy! I’ll look at that background a bit later. They are both pretty much SOOC. But always room for improvement!

4

Glenys, you have done well here. I have attempted similar photos, mostly with Rainbow Lorikeets. Mine have always seemed unbalanced while your two do not. Perhaps it is the more muted colour scheme and different body shape of the friar bird.

I do like the out of focus background

5

You have the most fascinating birds down there and you have shown these off so well! The BG on the first is to die for! Maybe a pull of the Highlights slider in ACR would bring some of that into the second one, if you haven’t tried it. (May need some masking.) But light is light and sometimes you gets what you gets. Both are excellent in any case!

6

Very interesting looking bird, Glenys, shown well with fine detail and sharpness. I especially like the second one with the flared collared feathers. Agree with Sandy about the second background.