The family

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Nettetal_IMGP4618_futen.jpg
Nettetal_IMGP4618_futen.jpg2064×1376 203 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Well, this is what I was waiting for when I shot the dragonfly :slight_smile:
The birds stayed for a long time hidden behind the vegetation, apparently not hungry. No hunt, very relaxed. But finally they appeared. I think that the young birds are less than a week old, still very small.

Specific Feedback

I have images without vegetation as well, but I like to include a bit of the surroundings. And I like the reflection of the branch, just behind the birds.
But you can have a very different opinion and I like to read it.

Technical Details

Pentax K3 Mk.III, Pentax 150-450 @309mm, f/8, 1/800s, ISO1600. Tripod.
RAW conversion in DxO PL6, very little editing. Very slight crop.

Critique Template

Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.

  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
  • Emotional Impact and Mood:
  • Composition:
  • Balance and Visual Weight:
  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
  • Lighting:
  • Processing:
  • Technical:
2

Now that’s a sharing family! Is Mum looking after the weak one? In a perfect world I’d like to see the two adults separated by a bit of water. And I’d clone out that branch you mention. However, you caught a great moment very well - and of course there’s plenty of your green!

3

Great catch to get both adults with chicks on their backs, Han. I’m fine with both the green and the branch reflection, but I do wish the grebes were just a bit further right in the frame to give some separation between the far bird and the branch. Still a very fine image.

4

What a treat to see this, Han. I’m with you on the foliage; I think it adds to the scene.

5

I’m wondering if another second or two delay would have separated the birds., but it sounds as if they were not very cooperative.
Lovely to catch both birds with chicks! IMO, the left greenery doesn’t add anything and is distracting. I don’t mind the reflected branch.
Nice!

6

Han: in a perfect world the birds would have had a bit more separation, but…. It is nontheless a very fine capture. I like your idea of showing some of the environment, but the leaves are bright and saturated. I think a bit of de-saturation of the leaves would improve the scene.

7

What a great family capture. I just love the colors of these birds when they are in breeding plumage. As far as I know, we don’t get them here in Southern California. :frowning:
As others have mentioned, a little bit of separation between the adults would be ideal but how often is the natural state of things ideal??? HMMM…
The greenery is a bit saturated although I don’t mind it included in the scene and I wouldn’t really mind the branch reflection but it’s cutting through the image a bit too close to the far bird. Do you have a frame right after this one where that bird is separated just a smidgen more? Again, in an ideal world. The color of the water is tantalizing and the light you were given was nice and soft.
Exceptional image, Han!

8

Thank you @Mike_Friel , @Dennis_Plank , @Allen_Brooks , @Sandy_Richards-Brown, @Richard_Sandor and @David_Haynes for your thoughts and comments.
I completely agree with the wish for a bit of separation between the 2 adult grebes. But: I don’t have such an image. Several with the birds even closer together, but none really separated. And all those images were made in a short time frame, because the grebes rapidly decided to disappear behind the vegetation again. I do have a few images with more separation between the reflection of the branch and the OOF bird, but in those images the first grebe has turned around about 90 degrees in the direction of the second. Not very attractive. We have to live with what nature offers us.
It is clear, that the opinions about the included leaves at the left edge vary. But that is where this community is for.
@David_Haynes I also love the grebes in this time of the year. Every spring I try to get a few shots. In winter time the plumage is a lot less appealing.

9

Hi Han, I don’t really have anything to add to the above commentary other than saying this image draws me in with the sharp and colorful capture of the front bird with the chicks. Love the red eye in the adult as well. Intriguing image.

10

Thanks @Allen_Sparks for your comment! Much appreciated.