The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Sifaka is a type of Lemur in Madagascar. In this photo I am trying to capture a Sifaka in their ENVIRONMENT doing what they do best - they eat flowers. The intent was diagonals leading towards the strange “paw” and then the flower. His eyes were big as this was a rare flower.
Specific Feedback
Were the diagonals successful in drawing your eyes towards the paw and the flower? What could I do differently to emphasize the paw and flower more?
I would have liked to have had a little more space between the flower and the edge. I have not been able to remove one little branch, but it is in the diagonal. Any hot spots? What about the leaves surrounding the animal?
Technical Details
Sony rV
400mm. F8 1/1600 ISO 8000 (a very gray overcast day)
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi, Joann - welcome to great community! Glad you’ve joined us! I’d love to learn more about you when you have time to complete your profile!
This first post is really quite good - very interesting critter in a great environment, and with a compelling pose. That eye focused on the flower treat is excellent!
I might offer a couple suggestions…
That outstretched paw is a main focus of the image, but is a little bright and detail-less. Bringing down the highlights here might re-capture some of the detail., as in the excellent detail on the face.
That thin diagonal branch by the chin distracts me a bit, so might be cloned out, or a simple Gen Fill in PS would also remove it.
I’d like a little more room at the top, if you have it, and to the right so the flower isn’t cut off. If you don’t have room originally, and don’t mind occasionally using Gen Filll - it would expand both sides a little.
This is a very fine image - I’m looking forward to more of your work! Again - welcome!
Hi Joann !
Welcome to NPN !
An interesting frame of Sifaka & some nice expressions !
You may try to get some details in the whites of arm and may add some canvas on the RHS so that white flower is not touching the edge.
Thank you VERY much for the feedback
I really appreciate it
I need to learn how to bring out the details in his white arms and how to add space on the side by the flower
Right now I learn a lot from all the comments on NPN
What a wonderful first post. Yes. You have created a wonderful diagonal arm and flower line. Maybe prune off that little branch above the sifaka’s hand? A little more space on the RHS to enable the flower breathing room would have been ideal, but you maybe able to extend the canvas somewhat. I would also like the bottom curvy branch to have a bit more breathing room.
You may be able to retrieve some detail in the arm? The leaves around the animal look fine to me.
I did notice the B&W circle over the flower. I’m assuming you did that intentionally to highlight the position of the flower.
First, I want to apologize for the amount of time that has passed. Life gets in the way sometimes. And most importantly I wanted to find some time to try the things that you recommended before I responded.
Second, I cannot tell you how much I appreciated your thorough, complete, and detailed critique of my photo. Without doubt, it is the best and most thoughtful feedback I have ever received. If I could I would hire you for a personal “critiquer” and process improver. I really appreciated how much you noticed and how graceful the comments were made. I did not know how to extend an edge, but I learned how to do that in photoshop. It was successful beyond the flower (RHS), but not for the bending branch (just more to learn there). I was not able to bring out more detail in the arm. High contrast animals are a challenge. The white of the arm was blown out beyond repair. But it was easy and did help to prune off the little branch above the hand.
The gray circle around the flower was my attempt to highlight it. It was a technique I studied somewhere but obviously did not remember exactly how to do it correctly. There is more to learn.
