The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
When looking for big cats to photograph in Africa, I often rely on other species (possible prey), in the area to assist me by indicating the presence of predators. Antelope tend to vocalize, but the Giraffe (aka ‘the silent witnesses’), simply indicate the presence of a predator by looking in their direction. This small family unit presented me with the opportunity to capture what I consider to be an image of ‘the Ultimate Predator Spotter’.
Specific Feedback
All feedback is welcome. Particularly related to the composition of the image.
Technical Details
Camera & Settings:
Nikon D850
1/800 sec @f9.0 +1.0 EV
Lens: Nikkor 400 mm f2.8
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Garnet, this is the ultimate in composition. The perfect odd number arranged in a wonderful pose. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. The sky even cooperated by providing a few soft clouds. How perfect. I have only one tiny little nit. A crop that moved them a bit to the right, adding more room on the left in the direction they were looking, might be a consideration. It is my firm conviction that one cannot have too many giraffe pictures.
It’s a great composition Garnet, with all of the necks seemingly coming from a single body!
I wonder if you could get a bit more detail from the shadow of the face on left? This could help to balance the exposures of all three faces.
Really nice image! Baboons are another sentinel that watch closely for predators, and have alerted me several times.
Getting 3 giraffe together in a pose like this is quite an accomplishment!
I concur that more room in front would be an improvement, as well as trying to light up the left giraffe’s face, if possible.
Thank you @Barbara_Djordjevic , @Ryan_H , @SandyR-B , @Ed_Williams , and Diane Miller for your helpful feedback on the original image.
I have recovered more detail from the face of the male, but because of the angle of light I have left just a touch of light on the cheek. And because the ear is blocking the light to the area around the eye, I have left that in shadow.
I changed the crop to place the middle female giraffe on the rule of thirds.
I would appreciate feedback on the repost.
Garnet, the crop is spot on. What you did for the face helps, but it did flatten the color. I wonder if backing off just a little would make it blend in without the washed-out tones. Just a thought.
Garnet I like the greater detail in the face, but to be honest I prefer the original crop. To me the extra sky on the right serves to better evoke the open plains where giraffes usualy live. Where they have to look everywhere… all of the time.
Hi @Ryan_H . While I think that composition is personal, and that the rule of thirds is helpful in composition. But, like you, when I am photographing African wildlife I often tend to place my subject so that I can use the rule of fifths in post processing to incorporate a bit more of the habitat of the animals. In this case there is only sky, but that would have been because of my camera settings for African wildlife.
Thank you Richard. Because I had limited ability to change my position to compose the shot I had to wait for the necks to align before I could capture the image.
In all seriousnes, it is a wonderful image which deserves a large spot of your wall.