The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I couldn’t believe the brilliant colors of these two peacocks at the Los Angeles Arboretum a few years back. I tried to get enough of an angle over the top of one to capture the cape feathers on it’s back.
Specific Feedback
I know it fades out a bit on both the top with the focus and the bottom with the blue colors. I guess I could crop a bit tighter to get more consistency. Thanks for looking and thanks for any comments you care to leave. I do love the colors and the patterns.
Technical Details
Canon 60D, f6.3, 1/320 s, iso 640, -0.3 ev, 100-400 at 400mm. Cropped for composition.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Wow! So gorgeous. The colors are eye popping and the patterns and textures stunning. Fading at the top is okay by me. I might crop a little off the left side to just past the triangular shape in the LL. That spot catches my eye and it would also make it more symmetrical. Anyway…beautiful image.
Ed, what stands out to me right away is the hypnotic repetition of those feather patterns. The colors are truly something special—those greens and blues create such a striking contrast, and you’ve done a great job of capturing their iridescent quality.
I see where you’re coming from with the fading at the top and bottom. The slight softness at the top isn’t too distracting, but I do think a tighter crop might give the image a bit more consistency, especially near the bottom where the blue feathers start to lose definition. The focus on the central area, though, is spot on, and you’ve really captured the sharp lines that outline each feather perfectly.
The color harmony here is what really makes this image sing. It draws you in with that almost mesmerizing effect. If you do decide to crop, it’ll just enhance the impact of those vibrant colors and give the whole shot a more polished feel. But honestly, the patterns and tones are already quite captivating.
Ed: Eye popping color for sure. The focus fall off at the top does bug me a bit and I would be sorely tempted to crop this tighter to get rid of the most egregious areas. The bottom doesn’t bother me all that much. If you were handholding at that focal length I can see the compromises you would have to make with f-stop and SS. Shooting this at f11 or even f16 might have been ideal but only if on a tripod or with perhaps unacceptable high ISO setting. Still the color is arresting and I like how you filled the frame. >=))>
Ed, wonderful repeating patterns here and striking iridescent colours.
I agree a tighter crop would cut out the top OOF area and allow a bit more centering.
Excellent image!
This fits the challenge perfectly and the feathers are hypnotic. I agree with others–crop in on all four sides so that the we are looking at the areas of sharpest focus.
WOW!! Fantastic capture! I think the crop is spot-on. I easily overlook the areas of softness because they look natural (no lens artifacts) and the expanse of the pattern is so captivating! Very well seen and presented!!
Ed! This is gorgeous. My eye just wants to stay with it. Although I am not one to notice focus fall-off on the edges of images (it can be a tool to keep the eye within the image), I do like the second crop better only because it allows more of the transition to mostly blues. The blues at the bottom serve to anchor the composition, IMHO, and it is echoed in the center of the rest of the feathers, leading me around and around in this beautiful array.
Thank you so much for your kind words on this everyone. I went ahead and re-cropped to reduce some of the OOF areas and anomalies on the sides and bottom. I was handholding on this and the peacock was moving around a bit so I was pretty happy with what I ended up with. Again, I really appreciate all of your input and encouragement @Chris_Baird, @Saundie, @Bill_Fach, @SandyR-B, @DJLeland, @Diane_Miller, @Connie_McClaran and @J_Fritz_Rumpf.
Ed, this is an outstanding pattern. I like the inclusion of the blue along the bottom as a good change of pace. I do wish that you’d used a smaller aperature, so the top feathers were sharp, but that could have been challenging with a living subject.
