This limpkin photo was taken with an N70. Scanned from a negative. All critiques are welcome and desperately needed. Thanks!

-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), January 07, 1999

Answers

The lighting and bird pose combine for too much contrast. I think some fill light or a different pose would help.

-- Larry Korhnak (lvk@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu), January 07, 1999.

I don't know Larry. It has a tension, like a bird knowing it is being stalked or something. I like the pattern that the water and grasses form.

-- Micheal F. Kelly (kellys@alaska.net), January 07, 1999.

Very artistic indeed. It is definately not your typical boring image. It has mood and feel, The cropping is a bit rough but other than that it is very nice.

Where was this taken?

-- Altaf Shaikh (nissar@idt.net), January 07, 1999.

Thanks for reminding me, Al. This was taken at a National Wildlife Refuge in Central Florida, near the St. Johns river.

-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), January 07, 1999.

I like the high contrast here. The strong side lighting, the blurred background, and the open space to the right give a sense of dynamic movement that I really like.

To me, this is a case where "breaking the rules" (severe lighting) adds to the photo.

-- Mark Erickson (maericks@netcom.com), January 07, 1999.

I'll echo Altaf's and Mark's comments. I couldn't say it any better. Even though the lighting is a bit harsh and contrasty on the left side I like the feel this image has. Besides the bird and its interesting "pose" I like the crisp sharpness of the grass in the foreground against the blurred background.

-- Barbara Kelly (kellys@alaska.net), January 08, 1999.

The bright background draws my eye away from the subject. I would have preferred to see more of the eye. You handled the high contrast well, exposure-wise (probably due in part to the use of print film), but a bit flatter light may have helped balance out the image. A lower angle camera position may have been interesting too...it's feels like you're looking down on the subject. Putting the subject off-center works well.

-- Duane Galensky (duane@wild-light.com), January 08, 1999.

Joe,
What bothers me is the "double" out of focus reeds in the background. A solid blur might imply motion, but not this. I do like the composition.

Was this shot taken using a mirror lens?

-Dave

-- Dave Herzstein (dherzstein@juno.com), January 08, 1999.

Thank you, everyone, for your critiques. They are invaluable to me as a growing photographer!

Thanks, Dave, for reminding me... This photograph was taken with a 600mm Sigma mirror lens.

-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), January 08, 1999.