The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This hawk has a gopher under it’s claws hidden behind the dry grasses in the foreground in this picture. The hawk is just freshly back from the hunt, signs of which are visible as marsh mud on its feathers on its lower breast and legs.
I saw the hawk early morning as soon as I parked. Though pretty common, the hawk was very approachable as it concentrated more on it’s breakfast. I had the correct angle and light falling on it so decided to get some shots.
Specific Feedback
Any feedback welcome.
I decided to crop this tighter than I normally would . It helped exclude some in focus grasses on the left. This after a crop is still 5000 pixels on the long edge.
I lowered the warmth a little bit and also did minor clean up of grasses.
I wish more of the feet were visible.
Technical Details
Camera: Canon R5
Lens 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 at 500mm
Settings: 1/800, f/7.1, ISO 2000
Handheld
Post -Processing: Lightroom, Denoise, Crop, Remove some minor grasses, Standard settings, Selective masks
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
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Wow! This is a nice looking raptor. You’ve captured a great pose on a nice stage, and the mud tells a story.
For me, the crop is a little tight, but this is always subjective. You have noted you wish you had feet visible. I wonder if you have more canvas on the bottom to give the bird room for “virtual” legs and feet.
The grasses look great, but feel there is a bit of a majenta cast. I played with White Balance and it shifted considerably warmer, then desaturated the yellows, greens and Aquas. Maybe bring down the hightlights on the birds breast.
Very much like the capture, Gaurav. Strong crisp details of eye, beak, and feather streaking on the chest.. A wonderful close up. I With the details of the subject so clear,wouldn’t mind seeing more of the grasses environment setting. Did you see the hawk fly in with the gopher and settle; or was the image shot just after the strike in these grasses? Usually they will take the prize to a tree, Nice to be so close to these creatures.
Thank you Stephen. It did fly in with the Gopher but stayed there a long time with it. (It could have been a rat, not a gopher as another birder who was there pointed that out to me). I couldn’t get any shots with the rodent unfortunately.
Great eye-level look, Gaurav. I like the composition with the grass framing the hawk and the soft, creamy background. Very sharp and good exposure in the morning light.
