Posting 12. This set of birds was taken over a two week period.
The last image is a composite image. All three birds were in the frame but never at the same time. Two were. It was funny watching their heads pop up and down.
Critique as you wish, I'll start it off with # 1, 4 and 5. I wish I had managed the brightness/contrast of the clump of snow in front and to the left of the card. 4 and 5 is easy. I wish the branch were not in the frame.
I will be applying your suggestions as redos in this thread.
FOUR RE-EDITS SO FAR. Please scroll down past the original 12 to see them.
You have a lot of cards there Ted. I counted 8 males and 6 females in my backyard at once one evening last week. #2 has an extremely bright BGD compared to the darker exposed bird. I'd reduce highlights in the BGD and maybe brighten mid tones in the card's face. #3 is a nice shot and comp, but the bird faces away from the viewer, less engaging for me imo. #6 is nice, but BGd is super bright. #7 is my pick. #8 could use some details in the red chest. #9 looks like a repost of a past titmouse. #10 is nice and sharp, but the direction he faces is shadowy and lacking details. #11 is a cool shot and looks fine the way it is. #12 is a cool composite. I might try to reduce highlights in the foreground snow and try to make it detailed like the BGD snow above the birds. More snow coming tonight 1-3 inches.
A great set as usual, Ted. I don't expect anything less. But in the spirit of "critique-ness" I'll throw out a couple of things. The OOF branch covering the chest in 4 and 5 kind of bothers me, but I love the pose. The high angle view in 6 doesn't appeal to me... except, I find the round body with tail pointing up is a unique perspective, and looks sort of like a Christmas tree ornament ball.
My favorites are 7 & 8, more open and a bit brighter.
#9 appears to be a repost of the edited Titmouse... and, I might add, very well done retouching too.. Just right.
In #10- I would be tempted to try cloning the upper half of the branch from in front of the birds head and put it down directly on top of the lower half of that same branch, as if it was a short branch, leaving solid background in front of the beak. Just an idea.
And, the reds of the feathers in 2, 4 & 5 seem a little dull.
Now that's being nit-picky, but doesn't diminish my enjoyment of looking over your shots. Keep 'em coming. (Oh, who the hell am I kidding. I don't enjoy being nit-picky. I'd rather just enjoy.)
Fred
Overall a very nice set. There are a few where branches get in the way of the view and this is OK though not ideal. Exposures are always tricky when there is snow in the frame. Some of the photos could have more detail in the snow for example 6. #2 does not have the pop of your other photos and the huge white area in the bottom left is a minus. You might want to try cropping to a head shot. 7-11 are great with wonderful exposures, detail in the feathers and great use of compositional elements such as leading lines. The last is good and what makes the photo is the way the 3 birds are situated peering out from behind a mound of snow.
These are all fantastic Ted. Hard to really critique as I would be happy with any of them, but I am partial to the female Cardinals. I like their subtle colors. Sorry I can't say anything bad!
Not much to add in terms of critique. #7 to me has the strongest physical feel of the bird in space, and the branch tip in the upper left corner works.
Feb 28, 2015 at 02:07 PM
David Leask Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
My critique (no techs, just impressions)...like Fred, the top down view of the female card doesn't do much for me, but the bird redeemed herself in #7 which (like David said), is beautifully presented.
Hey Hero,
Cards are always the birds that make me smile. The only CC I could honestly give you is that you should post more Cards and less Eagles. While I love the Eagles, The Lady Cards are one of the most beautiful birds anyone can post. You got them in the snow which makes them even better. #4-5 & 7 I wish I had taken!!!!! LOVE THEM BUDDY!
Hey Ted, These are all excellent. I especially like the female and male cardinals. Lovely comps and excellent detail in the birds. I am not bothered by which way they are looking. 1 and 3 for me for sure.
Herb Houghton wrote:
You have a lot of cards there Ted. I counted 8 males and 6 females in my backyard at once one evening last week. #2 has an extremely bright BGD compared to the darker exposed bird. I'd reduce highlights in the BGD and maybe brighten mid tones in the card's face. #3 is a nice shot and comp, but the bird faces away from the viewer, less engaging for me imo. #6 is nice, but BGd is super bright. #7 is my pick. #8 could use some details in the red chest. #9 looks like a repost of a past titmouse. #10 is nice and sharp, but the direction he faces is shadowy and lacking details. #11 is a cool shot and looks fine the way it is. #12 is a cool composite. I might try to reduce highlights in the foreground snow and try to make it detailed like the BGD snow above the birds. More snow coming tonight 1-3 inches. ...Show more →
Another super set Ted. Too many shots to critique them all. but I do see some hot spots in the snow, (as you mentioned). Have you tried cloning some detail into those spots? I will do that if the shot is worth the extra effort. The redo of 8 stands out ~ Ron
Your penultimate redo shot is a fave of mine Ted....it's funny how we have delved into getting the whole bird in focus from tip of bill to end of tail feathers but in this case the gentle blurring of the tail feathers as they head to the snow covered branches really really works. I'm waiting for the day I can actually shoot rather than process 4 year old files...won't be long now I hope!
Eric
#2 has an extremely bright BGD compared to the darker exposed bird. I'd reduce highlights in the BGD and maybe brighten mid tones in the card's face. #3 is a nice shot and comp, but the bird faces away from the viewer, less engaging for me imo. #6 is nice, but BGd is super bright. #7 is my pick. 
#10 is nice and sharp, but the direction he faces is shadowy and lacking details. #11 is a cool shot and looks fine the way it is. 
#12 is a cool composite. I might try to reduce highlights in the foreground snow and try to make it detailed like the BGD snow above the birds. More snow coming tonight 1-3 inches. 
