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defaulth1ng5oxr3m8g
Participating Frequently
March 8, 2023
Answered

Critique please...This quizzical looking heron

  • March 8, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 696 views

I'm having a very mixed acceptance rate with closeups pix of birds with intentionally blurred backgrounds.  Here the heron is in good focus and the background is smoothly blurred.  f/11, 1/1000, ISO 800, but rejected for "technical reasons".  OTOH, the angry looking grackle was accepted.  Is the heron picture too dark, not enough feeling of separation, not enough color?  Comments appreciated 🙂

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ricky336

Underexposed!

 

2 replies

Abambo
Community Expert
AbamboCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2023

You're lucky with your grackle. I could also easily explain, why it could earn a refusal. It's a nice picture, but it's not flawless, and I think your masking work was not perfect. The exposure isn't either.

 

The heron is missing contrast. The exposure is a bigger problem, as all the whites and highlights are missing.

 

In addition:

The shadow of the long beak is disturbing.

You have colour noise and detail is missing. Your background masking is not perfect.

I've seen worse, but one of those small errors gives you a refusal.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
D
defaulth1ng5oxr3m8gAuthor
Participating Frequently
March 8, 2023

Thanks.  Actually, there was no masking involved with the heron image.  The background blur was all due to the depth of field.  I think you zoomed in to 400%, yes?  

I can see that the head position and shadow of the beak might be an issue.  But it does add to the quizzical look.  

I will definitely revise the tone curve to bring out the whites and contrast. 

Thanks 🙂

Abambo
Community Expert
AbamboCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2023

I zoomed into your picture at 400% because I saw this at 100%:

I do not see whatever ISO you applied, the background is clean, and the foreground contains colour noise, so I assumed you did some masking.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
Ricky336
Community Expert
Ricky336Community ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 8, 2023

Underexposed!

 

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