The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Wairio Wetlands, Boggy Pond Preserve, Martinborough, North Island, NZ
One single harrier flying over caused this terrified response from a huge number of shorebirds on the shore of a pond .
These are mainly South Island pied oystercatchers (red bill). The indigenous Māori name is tōrea. They are clearly on North Island as well!
Also a few wrybill, bar-tailed gotwit, and semi-palmated plovers in the mix.
Specific Feedback
comments and suggestions always welcome.
Technical Details
Sony A1
200-600mm @ 200
Software: Adobe Photoshop 25.12 + DxO Pure Raw 4
Date Taken: 2025-03-15 18:09:44
Exposure Time: 1/4000 sec
F Number: f/20
ISO Speed Ratings: ISO 2500
Exposure Program: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
I’m really liking this image Sandy. The orange bills of the oyster catchers and their expressive poses is quite dynamic. I like how the foreground birds are coming right of the frame. The orange breeding plumage of the godwits is also very nice. The clouds are very nice as well!
I can see another version of this with the land cropped off the bottom to show only the birds. There are a few anomolies on the edges of the frame? Wires on the bottom and smudgy birds.
Interestingly, I am in a birding group here in Brisbane and one of the members, who is in NZ at the moment, commented on the number of oyster catchers at Boggy Pond.
Very interesting, Sandy. Somehow it almost comes across as being done with a wide angle lens with all those birds and the clouds behind them looking like they’re in good focus. Looks like you had a lot of light to make that work at those settings. Flock shots are difficult to make look interesting, but this one works very well.
Glennie, Thanks for noting the goofs! My eyesight is not good at times, and I completely missed the wires on my little travel computer screen. I like your suggestion about cutting the bottom off, as well.
A very engaging image, Sandy, from the dominant Oystercatchers to the distant Godwits. There is great depth to the shot. The sliver of land provides a good anchor for your image. And the cloudy sky is a fitting backdrop. Well captured in a fast and furious environment.
Hi Sandy, what a great scene of this grouping of birds all flying and on alert. F20 really worked well for DOF. Love the cloudy background. Removing the wires on the bottom would be an improvement.
This is really beautiful @SandyR-B - it seemed slightly dark to me (could be my screen). I tried brightening it just a bit with a Nik Effects filter; not really an improvement on a wonderful photo but a slightly different look. I didn’t touch the power lines since those were already mentioned. It’s easier for me to show than tell.
Having tried many “flock-shots” over the years I am very impressed with this one.
It conveys the feel of the flight really well, there is pin sharp detail on the close ones, loads more at the rear to fill the frame and a bit of ground to show us where we are.
