The Evening Roost
Some Kind Of Flap
Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
These were taken on a couple of hikes my wife and I did along the South Central California Coast. I love watching the pelicans glide over the water along the beach. The second image was a unique roosting spot later one day, usually they like to find a pile of rocks along a jetty or a dock in a harbor to sit around and chew the sardines. . . the third image is several birds flapping in the water. I’m not sure why they do the flapping sometimes. They will flap/beat the water just before taking off, but for some reason I’ve noticed them flap for what just seems to be the fun of it within small groups this year.
Specific Feedback
Are the greens too green in the second image? Is the first pelican too large in the frame? I did crop it, and so I have some extra canvas to work with if needed.
Technical Details
- Canon R5, f7.1, 1/1600 sec, iso 160, 100-500 RF lens at 500 mm.
- Canon 5DMiii, f7.1, 1/800 sec, iso 500, 100-400 EF/1.4 TC at 368 mm.
- 5DMiii, f8, 1/800 sec, iso 250, 560 mm.
Critique Template
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Hi Ed, nice captures of these pelicans. I like the in flight pose in the first image with good sharpness on the head and body. The crop looks good to me with space for the bird to fly into and enough all the way around for my taste.
The greens in the second image look like they were darkened and saturated or something similar. Wondering what brightening the shadows in the second image would do.
Allen said it for me. I don’t think extra canvas helps when the sky is featureless and you have a sharp image – I always have the feeling that I’m presenting a portrait of the bird and it should dominate the frame without feeling crowded. You have that balance here, with a very nice capture.
Maybe try processing the second one with less contrast?
One day I shot way too many frames of a juvenile flapping in Bodega Bay for what must have been 15-20 minutes. Maybe they are shaking off cooties? (I should dig one out and post it – don’t think I have.)
Nice series, Ed. As noted, the first is a fine image. If you had enough light maybe a touch more depth of field would help, but it doesn’t look like there’s any way you’d get the whole wing in focus.
That certainly looks like a popular perch in the second image judging by the wash. Taming that may have been what caused the rest of the frame to look so dark. You can try going over the perch with a brush in LR and pulling down the highlights-that often works.
The third image is fun, but a pano crop might concentrate more attention on the birds antics. I also think it could do with a boost in brightness and contrast to give it some more pop.
I like the first one the best–pelicans deserve top billing in any shot. More DOF would have been perfect, but head and body are tack sharp. Pose is pretty good too…Jim
I appreciate your insighta and help on these @Allen_Sparks, @Diane_Miller, @Dennis_Plank , and @Jim_Zablotny. I’ll work on the secend when I get a chance. Diane, you may be on to something with the “cooties.” Dennis good suggestio. With the pano on three. Thanks.
