Picky eater

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

_49A3528-Edit.jpg
_49A3528-Edit.jpg2000×1600 696 KB

_49A3536-Edit.jpg
_49A3536-Edit.jpg2000×1600 1.44 MB

_49A3539-Edit.jpg
_49A3539-Edit.jpg2000×1600 1.44 MB

_49A3540-Edit.jpg
_49A3540-Edit.jpg2000×1600 1.45 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

The Waxwings were still working on the tree in early January. Having fun here with 20 fps. This was a throwaway, but I recently caught one fumbling a berry like that and stretching out to grab it again. The berries don’t seem to knock off easily so they must reject or lose quite a few, as the ground is always littered with them. Unfortunately I didn’t get a toss from this guy.

Specific Feedback

All comments welcome!

Technical Details

Canon R5, 100-500 + 2X at 800mm, 1/1500 sec, f/11 (wide open), ISO 1600. Minor shadows lifted in LR, denoise in PS, stray branch ends pruned on left. Cropped to 45% of full frame.

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:
2

A fine series - maybe it’s rejecting the berry, rather than being clumsy. As you say, picky. There are so many that it can afford to “cherry-pick”. The bird may regret this later, or ground-feeders will rejoice! Super exposures, Diane, bringing out the colors on this beautiful bird.

3

Love this series Diane. Such elegant birds and well captured here without any distractions. Love the lone clump of berries as a perch. Well done!

4

Nice series with excellent detail in the waxwing and a nice clump of berries to balance the image.

5

This is so nice! It’s simple and nice. I love how the clean background allows the viewer to focus solely on the bird and the berries and I like the relatively limited colour palette. It’s also very cool seeing the four images one right after another. :slight_smile:

6

From the other point of view, “The Reject”. A great series, Diane. A bit more fun than tossing them in the air and catching them in some ways. Excellent image quality. Your images with that combination are excellent advertisement for the quality of the lens and teleconverter.

7

Thanks, @Mike_Friel, @Allen_Sparks, @Allen_Brooks, @Tom_Nevesely and @Dennis_Plank! The images missed by maybe a millisecond making it clearer, but this looked to me like he deliberately spit it out. He immediately grabbed another one from below and took off with it.

I LOVE that lens with the 2X! These are on a tripod, due to hours of standing there and the need for instant aim, but after years of living with the old Canon 600mm f/4 (over 9 lbs with a TC) I never dreamed I would have a 1000mm hand-holdable rig! And it is sharper than the old II-series lens with the III-series TCs. Happy camper.

8

Fantastic series, especially with the berry in mid-air. Well seen and composed. Excellent lighting and framing.

9

This is a fun series with captured action. The details and sharpness are excellent and the images are fine as presented. awesome…Jim

10

Thanks, @Jim_Zablotny – it was fun to capture it!

11

That’s such a beautiful set of images. Not a nit among them!

12

Thanks, @glennie! I’m still sorting through (i.e. deleting to get to the few good ones) way too many shots at this tree. I’ll have more to post.