# Oriental Darter preening. **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [February 23, 2023, 7:51am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753 "2023-02-23T07:51:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JRajput](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jrajput/32/10866_2.png) [@JRajput](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/JRajput)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 7:51am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/1 "2023-02-23T07:51:07Z")
![Oriental Darter preening.](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/3/c340619e1278e7edba72f07459a702f3803e045c.jpeg) ### Type of Critique Requested - Aesthetic: Feedback on the overall visual appeal of the image, including its color, lighting, cropping, and composition. - Conceptual: Feedback on the message and story conveyed by the image. - Technical: Feedback on the technical aspects of the image, such as exposure, color, focus and reproduction of colors and details, post-processing, and print quality. ### Specific Feedback and Self-Critique Does it work in B&W? ### Technical Details Canon R 5; 500 mm; ISO 400; 1/1250 sec. at f 6.3 ---
**Author:** ![Dean\_Salman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dean_salman/32/13291_2.png) [@Dean\_Salman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dean_Salman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 12:40pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/2 "2023-02-23T12:40:46Z")
Great photo image and well framed. Even though I am more of a color person, I also feel the BW does equally as well with contrast and sharpness. The details come out very easily and are well defined. I feel this did very well as BW. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_Breitkreuz](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/paul_breitkreuz/32/400_2.png) [@Paul\_Breitkreuz](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Paul_Breitkreuz)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/3 "2023-02-23T13:43:58Z")
A truly stunning image, J. The larger version provides outstanding detail too. I actually think the B&W provides more of the finer detail or more likely we see it when not distracted by colorful items… 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![Robena.Sirett](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/robena.sirett/32/50153_2.png) [@Robena.Sirett](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Robena.Sirett)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/4 "2023-02-23T14:49:34Z")
Wow, this is a piece of art! I love the black and white here. The story really is the texture of the bird (and why they spend so much time preening!). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morrissey](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/peter_morrissey/32/683_2.png) [@Peter\_Morrissey](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Peter_Morrissey)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/5 "2023-02-23T16:14:14Z")
Hi Rajput The overall detail of this b&w photograph is outstanding, but it’s’ the head turning eye contact that make keeps me looking at this Darter photograph. Good call. Peter ---
**Author:** ![David\_Bostock](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_bostock/32/34921_2.png) [@David\_Bostock](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Bostock)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/6 "2023-02-23T17:57:06Z")
Wow. I’m such a fan of B&W that of course it works for me. 🙂 What a fantastic pose and composition that you have here. I think the B&W actually brings more to the image, allowing us to really appreciate the shapes and textures. Well done. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/7 "2023-02-23T18:19:34Z")
Works great in black and white. I agree with @Robena.Sirett that this is a piece of art. A real wall hanger. ---
**Author:** ![J\_Fritz\_Rumpf](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/j_fritz_rumpf/32/25805_2.png) [@J\_Fritz\_Rumpf](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/J_Fritz_Rumpf)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/8 "2023-02-23T23:10:36Z")
OHHHH, this VERY MUCH works in b+w. Beautifully seen ad captured!!! ---
**Author:** ![Han\_Schutten](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/han_schutten/32/72686_2.png) [@Han\_Schutten](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Han_Schutten)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/9 "2023-02-26T22:24:49Z")
Yes, this works as a monochrome image. Definitely. Great portrait, beautiful B&W conversion. It is so smooth, that I might be tempted to add a little grain, e.g. with an application like DxO Filmpack. After all, I am someone that grew up with B&W film images 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 5:12pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/10 "2023-03-05T17:12:38Z")
I think this works really well in monochrome because you have such a nice combination of tones and textures. The pose speaks for itself, of course, but I think the texture is really enhanced in black and white. I understand the thinking behind the crop here, because those cascading “shoulder” feathers are so attractive, but I’m tempted to suggest a crop from the right. The curved wing and neck—and the subsequent shape they form—is the strongest element in the frame, but I feel there’s just a bit too much empty space on the right side that keeps drawing the eye away from that dominating oval shape. Nothing too drastic, but even coming in just to the base of the right shoulder feathers at the bottom (literally only 3-5% of the frame?) might help keep the viewer’s attention on the head and wing even more. ---
**Author:** ![JRajput](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jrajput/32/10866_2.png) [@JRajput](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/JRajput)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 9:16am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/11 "2023-03-20T09:16:45Z")
Thanks @Max_Waugh , really appreciate your input ❣ ---
**Author:** ![Kristal\_Kraft](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kristal_kraft/32/50860_2.png) [@Kristal\_Kraft](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kristal_Kraft)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/12 "2023-04-22T20:43:00Z")
This image is so dramatic! I do like it in B&W. The details in the wings and eye are excellent! The only thing that I would change is to darken the bright spot above the head. My eye is drawn there so it is a little distracting. Other than that I say “hang it!” ---
**Author:** ![J\_Fritz\_Rumpf](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/j_fritz_rumpf/32/25805_2.png) [@J\_Fritz\_Rumpf](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/J_Fritz_Rumpf)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/oriental-darter-preening/33753/13 "2023-04-22T22:15:11Z")
> [@JRajput](#): > > Technical Details > > Canon R 5; 500 mm; ISO 400; 1/1250 sec. at f 6.3 This caught my eye right away. Fantastic image; the BW really brings out the texture, and sharpness of this image. Brilliant!