Perched + repost

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Good ‘morning’ to all ‘writers’,
You gave me a lot to think about. I went back to the original image and ‘discovered’ that I cropped it this way because of too much clutter underneath. It took me quite some time to get rid of the clutter, but this is a new version that I find as acceptable or even more than my original one. Thank you for pushing my limits.

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Critique Style Requested: In-depth

The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.

Self Critique

This image borders on abstract photography, but with a clearly recognisable content. The clear outline against the sky is exactly as I wanted it. I have some doubts about the exact framing (larger is only possible with AI, but maybe smaller could make the picture better?) Also I made the choice to keep the noise in the picture. But I am sure there might be disagreement about this. I am thus looking forward to your insight. Up to total dislike of the experiment, of course.

Creative direction

I like Michael Kenna’s black and white pictures a lot. When I saw the scenery when waking up very early after a night in the African forest, I immediately thought of him. There was of course very little light and quite some mist.

In LR, I needed to ‘push’ the picture with the exposure and the dehaze sliders quite a bit. This explains, I think, the visible noise. But as stated, I quite like it.

Specific Feedback

I have stated my question higher already. I hope you can show me ways to make this a more striking image.

Technical Details

These are the settings: Canon Canon EOS R6
ƒ/6,3
1/400
200 mm (RF 200-800mm lens)
3200 ISO.

Description

Black storks (and quite a number of other birds) roam a clearing in the tropical forest, where forest elephants come in high numbers to find mud and minerals. I spent a night on a platform there and woke up to see that the storks were up even earlier than me. The sun was not yet there and thus the fog was not yet gone. Action pictures were not really possible, but the storks perched on a dead tree. The picture out of the camera was almost black and needed quite some postprocessing. I did not get a second chance, since the storks flew of immediately.

Critique Template

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2

I like the concept and the square framing. I would have liked to see a bit more in the bottom where the two sets of branches join, and provides some completion to the composition. Or you can take out the right set of branches and make this a portrait image centered around the main branches. There is a also significant noise particularly in the sky, which you may consider cleaning up.

3

I like the noise in the background, Xavier. It looks like a deliberate texture has been applied, which fits well with this particular scene. My inclination on the crop would be Govind’s second option-eliminate the right clump of branches and go with a vertical aspect ratio. If you need a touch more canvas on the left you should be able to get away with just cloning the background you have since the noise is so uniform.

4

Hi Xavier, I like the noise in the image also. Really fits the mood and adds to it. I like this composition but also could see a version mentioned above going vertical and eliminating branches on the right. A unique image, well done.

5

Oh, I love your crop/framing the way it is. For me, eliminating the right-hand tree would make this less interesting. The only thing I might suggest is to increase the contrast a bit, for example, with a slight S-curve in PS. You might not want that, though, if you want to keep a more subdued mood.

6

Black and white works well to create a nice moody image. The noise adds to this effect. I like the right hand tree-it’s, for me, a scene that’s more than just about the birds, so the bare branches add to the mood. I think the framing could be extended without AI, using the cloning tool, but not sure it’s necessary.