Pine Cone Harvest - Updated

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Sky Adjustment:

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20250711_080026_Z813670
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Originals:

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20250711_080025_Z813665.jpg1721×2048 949 KB

20250711_080026_Z813670.jpg
20250711_080026_Z813670.jpg1721×2048 887 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

I was fortunate to be on a walking bridge in a local wetlands and near to this tree when the Chickadee landed on the cone and began digging for a seed.

Specific Feedback

Any comments appreciated.

Technical Details

Nikon Z 8, 800 mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 500.

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1 Like
2

Excellent catch of this action, David. I’ve gotten them on fir cones many times, but never pulling out a seed. A fine pair of behavioral images. The sky is looking a little intensely blue to my eye. I think you could afford to bring the exposure up just a bit more without blowing out the whites on the cheek and that would take care of it.

3

Very cool - great capture of this action!
Nice detail, great pose and angle.
I can visualize a tighter crop, with the cone and right top eliminated.
Sweet!

4

Wonderful in all regards!! I can smell the fir tree! I didn’t notice the sky until @Dennis_Plank mentioned it, but his idea could work well. Or just the tiniest lowering of blue saturation.

5

@Dennis_Plank thanks for the comments and suggestions. I have posted updates above with lighter sky. Let me know if that looks any better.

@Sandy_Richards-Brown, thank you for your comments too. I tried your crop but the bird wound up too close to the right edge for my tastes. I suppose I could clone out the cone at the edge. I’ll look into that.

@Diane_Miller thanks for your comments too. I posted an update above.

Cheers,
David

6

Even superber!

7

Vetry nice job on the repost, David.

8

@Diane_Miller and @Dennis_Plank thank you…Diane, is that even a word??? :laughing:

9

Even though I just made it up, it must be — it’s comprised of letters and follows grammatical rules for a comparative adjective… :upside_down_face:

1 Like
10

Wonderful behavioral images David. Love seeing the feeding activity like this. Well done!

11

Thanks, it was pretty special catching the behavior.

12

Congratulations of the EP! Very well-deserved!

13

Congrats!..Jim