# Prairie Grass, Rocks, and Western Meadowlark

**URL:** <https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254>\
**Category:** Image Critiques\
**Tags:** weekly-challenge\
**Created:** [November 26, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254 "2020-11-26T13:31:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jim\_Zablotny](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_zablotny/32/3919_2.png) [@Jim\_Zablotny](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Zablotny)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254/1 "2020-11-26T13:31:24Z")

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![Westernmeadowlark1](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/8/3/8395674335cb4150c7cc3163fc1a651ce08d2f25.jpeg)

### What technical feedback would you like if any?

### What artistic feedback would you like if any?

### Pertinent technical details or techniques: This was taken with my old Pentax system at Custer State Park, South Dakota. The Spring rains produced a lush carpet of grass in an area that was recently ravaged by fire. With small sensor size, a more aggressive crop is out of the question. I adjusted the saturation of greens and cyans down from the original. I also applied shadow & highlights on a luminosity mask for the bright areas on the rocks…Jim

(If this is a composite, etc. please be honest with your techniques to help others learn)

###### If you would like your image to be eligible for a feature on the NPN Instagram (@NaturePhotoNet), add the tag ‘ig’ and leave your Instagram username below.

@jameszablotny

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254/2 "2020-11-26T15:24:17Z")

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Jim: Chrissy and I went to Custer in 2001 so this served as a nice reminder. I like your plane of focus and the position of the meadowlark in the frame. Well done. \>=))\>

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**Author:** ![Steve\_Kennedy](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/steve_kennedy/32/55050_2.png) [@Steve\_Kennedy](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254/3 "2020-11-26T16:27:43Z")

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Hi Jim!

I like this shot as is. The OOF grass makes a good background and your color adjustments look good. Good lighting and detail on the Meadowlark too.

As a side note, if you want to increase the resolution you could try Topaz Gigapixal AI. They have a free trial. It may be worth a test.

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**Author:** ![linda\_mellor](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/linda_mellor/32/15806_2.png) [@linda\_mellor](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/linda_mellor)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254/4 "2020-11-26T23:53:48Z")

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love the green grass Jim. . . and such a pensive expression on the bird. Looks like a great place to “ponder.” Nicely seeen.

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**Author:** ![David\_Schoen](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/david_schoen/32/368_2.png) [@David\_Schoen](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/David_Schoen)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254/5 "2020-11-27T19:42:05Z")

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Excellent look at this Meadowlark. I am enjoying the DOF and the BG quite a bit. It makes the bird pop.

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**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/prairie-grass-rocks-and-western-meadowlark/18254/6 "2020-11-28T13:35:55Z")

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Jim, the bird and the rocks stand out well in the sea of green. I like the sharpness in the foreground and the texture in the background grass.