The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I hope that’s the right ID. I went bird hunting east of Bridgeport, CA on the way home from a run down the eastern Sierra. There is a large flat area of cattle fields and I’ve found some photogenic birds there before, on funky old fence posts. I was hoping for Meadowlarks, which I could hear singing but only saw fleetingly. But I was surprised to see what looked like shorebirds in a boggy area. Then one gave me this opportunity!
Specific Feedback
All comments welcome!
Technical Details
Minimal tonal tweaks in LR. Into PS for denoise (hardly needed) and a little burn for the fence post. Handheld, probably braced on my Outback.
You couldn’t ask for a better perch! I love snipes and woodcocks - like footballs with beaks. I’ve seen woodcocks cross forest/logging roads, but by the time I get near they go off into the brush. Love their crazy wobble walk. You had some nice light for this and got fantastic sharpness. A treat to see. Can’t think of any way to improve except to maybe lift the mid tones in the bird itself…?
Hi Diane, great find and catch! I usually only see these on the ground amongst the muck. That long beak is something else. Nicely composed with pleasing background and fitting perch. Details and tones look great. Well done.
Yes, I like the added punch. Snipes are beautiful, and you were so lucky to get the high perch for it. I also like how the horizon seems to be reflected in the eye! A winner.
Excellent, Diane. The repost does add an extra little pop that works very well. I do like the perch, but as an aside, we just finished the judging for our County Fair Photography Exhibition and one of our judges has some kind of hatred for “stumps” in photographs and would probably shoot this one down just for that-strange some people’s likes and dislikes. I collect old fence posts to put up in the yard for perches.
Add another judge to my list… Some years ago we had a brand new member in our photography club who entered a very lovely portrait of his cat in our monthly competition. When it came up on the screen the judge said. “I hate cats. Next picture.” I came very close to getting up and stomping out. I couldn’t find the person whose picture it was (he had probably already stomped out) and we never heard from him again.
Yes, the repost is much bolder. I really like this image. I also like the bird quite a bit. I saw some snipes when I was in Iceland last year. Excellent job on the colors details and background. I like the perch.
Ah, beautiful. Image and bird. Great pose and I do like the post as a perch. The repost indeed is even better.
You mention the flat light; I think that flat light is often good for bird portraits like these. You can add the extra pop if you want, and you don’t get blown-out bright plumage.
Wow, Diane. What a terrific catch you got here. Striking pose with sharp details throughout, an interesting an unusual perch, and a beautifully blurred out and complimentary background all add up to an EP for you!!! LOL
Well done Diane!!
