The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
… but I don’t think I could choke one down. Every so often while hanging out at the Hawthorn tree waiting for Waxwings, I see a little Butterbutt. But I haven’t seen one try to down a berry.
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
Canon R5, 100-500 + 2X at 800; ISO 1000, 1/1000 sec, F/11 (wide open).
Not much done in LR – into PS for a big crop, to 20% of original pixels. No idea why I wasn’t out at 1000mm but probably because I had just been trying to frame a much larger Robin and didn’t want to take time to zoom out and miss the opportunity. Topaz Denoise and a bit of pruning of stray branches.
Critique Template
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Great catch of this warbler. the berries, and especially the OOF ones in the Bg, are excellent.
You might consider a little work with “levels” on the eye to bring out the red, and possibly include a catchlight - the eye is a little “dead”
I prefer Curves. Much more sophisticated. This is purely a fun image. The dead eye fits with the lack of any chance for this little bird. There was no light making a catchlight and I didn’t feel the need to create one.
Really nice. The color in the bird and in the BG work so well together. I too thought about a catch light in the eye, but you most likely did not use any flash to get one to show up. Naturally, I don’t think a catch light would show up if the sun was as high as it was in this frame. But either way, it is wonderful to look at.
Very nice, Diane. I like the warbler inspecting the berries. I haven’t noticed any insects on them in your images this year or I’d think that was what it was looking for.
The framing of the warbler by the berries really makes this image for me. Your title works well with the pose as the warbler does seem to be eyeing the berries and that sense of action makes up for lack of catchlight. Nice one, Diane.
Thanks, @glennie, @SandyR-B, @Youssef_Ismail, @Don_Peters, @Dennis_Plank and @Allen_Brooks! The few times I’ve seen these little guys stop at this tree over several years, they only glance around and leave quickly. So my “instinct” was that the little guy was disappointed by the daunting size of the berries. Maybe they are checking for bugs, which I’ve never seen on the berries. The closely peering look could fit that idea. Maybe I’ll catch one pecking the berries next year.
I’d love to use some fill flash here but at 20 fps and 1/2000+ SS (for tosses) and the subject 20-30 ft away, it would take quite a powerful unit. No time to dial in different settings for the brief poses as a toss may be imminent on a different limb.
Glennie, Butterbutt is a widely-used (and nicely descriptive) common name over here for these little Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Sorry, I’m late on this one Diane. I just love your berry birds this time of the year. Your cute little guy has a frustrated look to him. Like he’s contemplating trying to down one of these but just can’t figure out how to go about it. The detail you captured is amazing particularly with a 2X converter. I say, well done Diane. I love the OOF background berries. I love that shooting at F/11 is wide open. You gotta love it. I’ll be waiting for your waxwings!
Thanks, @David_Haynes! I’ve posted three favorites for this winter so far, and have a few more to go. This was a frustrating season with too many bright sunny days.
