Ruby throated Hummingbird at the Late Summer Buffet

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Reds with slight reduction in saturation:

rth2August232024
rth2August2320242000×1356 541 KB

RTH08232024.jpg
RTH08232024.jpg2000×1600 594 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

As summer nears its end, I usually try to snag a few shots of our resident hummingbirds before they head south, This is a first of the year ruby throated hummingbird checking out some cardinal flowers. Cardinal flower is a native wildflower that is a hummingbird pollinated plant. So far, I have not taken photos with better poses and that will come in due time. Enjoy!

Specific Feedback

I have not attempted to lower the saturation of reds. What would you do for this shot?

Technical Details

Z9 600mm f4 (1/200 sec at f20, ISO 1600, 4 flashes at 1/32 power) levels, shadows, crop for comp…

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2

I like the full saturation, Jim. While the wing position isn’t quite the conventional optimum, it works well.

3

Nice look at this hummer Jim. I like the second one for the wing position. I love the nice bright stem of flowers and nice clean BG. What a smorgasbord for the hummers.

4

Very nice Jim - glad you are photographing your hummer set up again. Flower saturation looks good to me. Nice lighting too. I think I prefer the second image wing position like Ed. Really nice frame.

P.S. I’m noticing sensor spots: above the beak of the bird towards the flower; one near the bottom below the feet; and one in the first image in the top right. I also notice some white bits near the flower on the left - not sure what those are.

5

Thank you @Dennis_Plank , @Ed_Williams , and @Allen_Sparks for your critiques. I did not do any work on dust bunnies as I feel these images are not quite ready for prime time. The white bits on some of the flowers is pollen and spider mite damage. I may pull back the shadow light back a foot to get a slightly stronger shadow on the bird’s belly. Normally, these first images are practice takes to see whether my methodology will produce excellent results. Once again, thank you all…Jim

6

I’ll go with the second one as well. I like the red flower (saturation looks okay) and the green background. Good detail in the bird.