Western Gull

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Western Gull-NPN3.jpg
Western Gull-NPN3.jpg2500×2000 655 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

The waves were crashing some distance behind the gull and I had to wait for when the gull wasn’t preening and there was wave action. Initially the wave was too out of focus, so I played around with the aperture. This was at f45 (just experimenting) and I’m not sure I knew the lens went up to that aperture-actually it goes to f72.

Specific Feedback

Any thoughts appreciated.

Technical Details

Canon R5; 100-500 with 1.4 TC at 700 mm; 1/500 at f45, -1/3 EV; ISO 1250

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2

I like the composition here. This is a nice set up and really gives a sense of place. Good color and detail.

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3

Wow! F/72? I thought f/67 was pure fiction. While the gull is pretty centered, with that wave action I think it’s the right choice for the composition, Allen. Your experimentation with the f-stop really made this image and I applaud the time you spent on it in the field-something it’s easy to neglect. Very well done.

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5

I love the pose here, with the dramatic wave breaking behind. And kudos for going for the DOF to see some structure in the waves – I wouldn’t have thought of it. There may be some diffraction softening from the small aperture but it’s hard to see any at this size. (Would be cool to quickly open up and shoot again if the bird was still long enough, and layer on the sharper bird.)

Ludicrous-looking f/stops are normal for long lenses, as they are just the ratio of the focal length to the actual diameter of the aperture opening. You could only get numbers that high with a wide-to normal lens with impractically-small apertures, and then diffraction would be a big problem, as diffraction is a function of the actual opening size. So for a telephoto at f/72 the opening is much larger than it would be for a wider lens, and diffraction less of an issue.

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