The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
The nearest wildlife refuge usually has a hummingbird or two that nest close enough to the trails that some sharp-eyed individual (not me) spots them and they become the center of probably too much attention. This year there are two, but they are far enough from the trail that the people gawking at them aren’t really much of an issue. This one is 15-20 feet from the closest possible approach (hanging from a thin branch about 10 feet over water). A fellow camera club member took me out yesterday morning as soon as the gate opened and we were the only ones there, though when I left at 8:30, there were a fair number of people in the parking lot.
Specific Feedback
Since these were taken over a two hour period, starting when the sun first gave us a ray of light between many, many trees, I made no match white balance or exposure between images. Is that a problem? All other comments are welcome and appreciated.
Technical Details
All images taken with Sony A1, FE 200-600 + 1.4 TC, monopod with Wimberley Sidekick head, f/9. Iso started at 12,800 and got all the way down to 4,000 by the time I left. Shutter speeds varied from 1/500, to 1/125th (thank the developers of image stabilization and noise reduction!). All images preprocessed with DxO PureRaw 5, with basic WB and overall exposure in LR and cropping and detailed adjustments in PS.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Holeee Cow!! These are wonderful!!! The nest is in such a clear opening! I love the very artistic environment in the first and the close-up details in the others. No need for them to match and probably not possible as the light varied. Maybe a little more canvas on the right (and probably all around) on the last one, to match the composition of the others. Superb images in any case!!!
Dennis, the vertical crops all look especially good and show off the hummer very well. I think the tangled, lichen covered branches add a lot to the view. The mix of subtle colors, especially the magenta wing, in the feeding view is special.
Wow Dennis what a great series! Awesome to catch the feeding behavior with such a good look at the nest. Lighting and color throughout the series looks really fine. Well done.
Holy smokes! What a find, congratulations!
I love the series, it really shows so much depth and tenderness. I love the ones with the hummingbird sitting on the nest, she has expressions!
I don’t see any issues about exposure/WB between exposures.
I like that the crop goes from wider to closer through the set., including more foreground in the first and less in the latter helps the storytelling. It adds to the intimacy.
Late to the game here (drowning with catch-up stuff from the last trip) - but a very excellent series. It’s very tough to find hummer nests, especially in the clear, so this is a great catch and cool series. Well-done!
Jim just found a hummer nest in the garden here, so hopefully I can get a shot or two.
Some people have the knack of spotting nests. Back in the bad old days of nest photography it was an essential skill and I’d never have made in as a bird photographer because I definitely do not have the knack.
