# Still Dashing **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** macro-close-up\ **Created:** [September 24, 2026, 4:29am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/still-dashing/52355 "2026-09-24T04:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 4:29am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/still-dashing/52355/1 "2026-09-24T04:29:50Z")
![Original - Still-Dashing79250A7r3-26.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/3/4/34d67ca1efe71cf016d2b2aab8358d1277cf5668.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 / Expressive ### About This Image A pretty straightforward portrait of my Blue Dasher friend, who persisted in landing on this broken stick. I liked the plane of focus that got the entire body and head and I also liked the subtle shadow of the wing on the stick. \>=))\> ### Feedback Requested Interesting enough? The BG is our yard which was relatively bright and pretty uniform. I did desaturate the BG about 60%. ### Technical Details Sony A7rIII Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM-II, 2xTC @ 330mm ISO 400, 1/100 @ f11 ---
**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 24, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/still-dashing/52355/2 "2026-09-24T07:56:41Z")
Hi Bill Def interesting enough. The BG colour is now perfect for the dasher and it’s an amazing capture. I love the way you see the body through the wing making it lovely and soft - still with the sharp focus needed. DOF is great and it makes a lovely image. Thinking a bit about the crop: The portrait version you have chosen works balance wise given that you want to keep the shadow of the wing. Square crop might just work too - if you feel there’s a bit more stick than you need. The stick brightness does compete with the lovely subtle dasher and background - to my eye anyway. I’d be tempted to make Mr Dasher bigger in the frame as his glorious capture merits. but your crop does score on the more unusual framing , and the stick is a great leading line. Over to you. ![Still-Dashing79250A7r3-26](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/8/a/8ac236410b78dd8c1a70b082dec6d58a0626b0ee.png) Regards Huw ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2026, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/still-dashing/52355/3 "2026-09-24T21:36:52Z")
Bill, this is a fine pose and like you, I think it’s great to get the wing shadow. I’m not convinced it’s a problem, but I wonder about more tonal separation between her and the background. Her colors blend very well with the background…maybe good, maybe not so good… She is a beauty. ---
**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 25, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/still-dashing/52355/4 "2026-09-25T00:12:59Z")
Excellent, Bill. I don’t have any problem with the background and separation and I rather like your original composition as the extra length of reed clearly defines what they are.