# Seaside Elegance (+revised) **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, birds\ **Created:** [September 14, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265 "2026-09-14T01:41:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/1 "2026-09-14T01:41:45Z")
## Revised Version ### Revision 1 (latest) ![Revision 1 - _ASI1682_05.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/d/2/d2532116a1d50523e030e076a870010115dbee34.jpeg) _Added after receiving feedback from the community._ * * * ## Original Version ![Original - _ASI1682 copy 2 npn.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/1/b/1b114961021583c2c5737e06e99913e64b84b36e.jpeg) **Critique Style:** Standard The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below. **Feedback Focus:** Artistic + Technical ### About This Image I did not think of Whimbrels as elegant until I captured this shot. I cropped closer to the bird. There was some great wave action just to the left, so I got rid of as it competed with the bird. The big waves far in the background were also too interesting, so I went for a uniform bokeh. Then I sharpened the bird and waves and left the rest soft. ### Feedback Requested Nikkor 300mm f4.5, ISO 320 1/250th of a second. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Brooks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_brooks/32/390_2.png) [@Allen\_Brooks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Brooks)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/2 "2026-09-14T04:18:56Z")
You caught a great pose, Steve, and the detail is excellent. I like the sharpness of the water at its feet and the blurred background. Nicely composed. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/3 "2026-09-14T14:22:36Z")
Seems to be more centered than I prefer but details and pose are excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/4 "2026-09-14T15:21:22Z")
I agree with @David_Schoen on the centering, Steve. Maybe just pare a touch off the right edge. I am seeing a tiny bit of sharpening halo around the beak and legs and a couple of other spots, so you might want to back off on that a bit. It looks like it was probably close to sharp enough in the original. A fine image with a very nice head turn and I always like a good over-the-shoulder pose. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morrissey](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/peter_morrissey/32/683_2.png) [@Peter\_Morrissey](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Peter_Morrissey)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/5 "2026-09-14T20:09:44Z")
Hiu Steve You are correct; this Whimbrels is elegant. The lighting and head turn make the shot. Peter ---
**Author:** ![Glenys\_Passier](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/glenys_passier/32/33963_2.png) [@Glenys\_Passier](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Glenys_Passier)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 5:12am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/7 "2026-09-19T05:12:13Z")
What a beauty. So very elegant together with my favourite bird pose. Colours look good. Like others have noted, I would prefer the bird a little more off centre. I wonder if including the waves to the left would make another version for comparison. Maybe a smidgen more on the bottom edge? ---
**Author:** ![Huw\_Thomas](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/huw_thomas/32/87850_2.png) [@Huw\_Thomas](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Huw_Thomas)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/8 "2026-09-19T16:25:42Z")
Lovely pose Steve - spot on focus and DOF I agree with a slight crop to put the bird closer to one edge or the other would seem to add a slight more dynamic image Extremely elegant ad a great capture - no other suggestions Regards Huw ---
**Author:** ![system](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/system/32/86481_2.png) [@system](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:28am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/9 "2026-09-20T05:28:37Z")
The original poster added a [revised version](#post_1) of their image. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:36am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/10 "2026-09-20T05:36:17Z")
Thank you Allen and I appreciate your time and input. I did a revision based on feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:38am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/11 "2026-09-20T05:38:54Z")
Thank you David. I fell down the composition rabbit hole based on your input. The revision is done using the Golden Spiral. The same image, but not the same. LOL. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:40am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/12 "2026-09-20T05:40:14Z")
Thank you Huw. I always look forward to you critiques. I did a revision based on feedback. Let’s see… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:41am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/13 "2026-09-20T05:41:42Z")
Thank you Peter. Ah, that early morning light. I did a revision based on the feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:42am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/14 "2026-09-20T05:42:54Z")
Thank you Glenys for your input. I appreciate your time and effort. I did a revision taking your suggestions into account. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Buffington](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Steve\_Buffington](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Buffington)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 5:44am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/15 "2026-09-20T05:44:16Z")
Ok Dennis. Good input. I did a revision. No sharpening and more off center. Quite differentl. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/16 "2026-09-20T15:05:41Z")
I love the pose of the Whimbrel and the revision made this really work. ---
**Author:** ![Andrew\_Sentipal](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/andrew_sentipal/32/3103_2.png) [@Andrew\_Sentipal](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Andrew_Sentipal)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/seaside-elegance-revised/52265/17 "2026-09-24T01:01:26Z")
Beautiful. I prefer the water color in the first image. Both are nice though