Another Hummer

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J

JSD

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Please let me know what you think, good, bad or indifferent. Thank you.

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For me the bird is OK; good focus, good wing position, reasonably good head angle. The problem for me is the setting and composition. I am not sure what the object is in the lower left frame, but it adds nothing to the image for me and I would clone or content fill it away. Also I prefer the birds more on the R side; ie, they need someplace to "fly" to. This bird is too centered. Depending on whether or not you cropped, you may need to add canvas in PS to give it more room to the L. Last, I would try to brighten up the eye. Hard for me to tell at this magnification if you have any iris to work with, but I would attempt to brighten it up; I use a layer using a combination of dodging and burning. I might also try to add a more distinct catchlight. All in all, I would consider this a workable image, especially for a hummer in flight.
 
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bajadreamer said:
For me the bird is OK; good focus, good wing position, reasonably good head angle. The problem for me is the setting and composition. I am not sure what the object is in the lower left frame, but it adds nothing to the image for me and I would clone or content fill it away. Also I prefer the birds more on the R side; ie, they need someplace to "fly" to. This bird is too centered. Depending on whether or not you cropped, you may need to add canvas in PS to give it more room to the L. Last, I would try to brighten up the eye. Hard for me to tell at this magnification if you have any iris to work with, but I would attempt to brighten it up; I use a layer using a combination of dodging and burning. I might also try to add a more distinct catchlight. All in all, I would consider this a workable image, especially for a hummer in flight.
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Thank you for taking time to reply. I agree with everything you said, and the rock in the lower left was the thing I was most interested in opinions for. I went back and forth whether to include it or not. There is no iris showing in this particular hummer, would have to create it. Our air is so full of forest fire smoke these days, the light is dull except earl in the AM! Thanks again
 
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Beautiful little flying jewel! Cropping is subjective so I leave that to you. if you want to crop, the content aware crop in CC2020 is awesome.
 
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Re> catchlight in a very dark eye. If you select and brighten the eye, you often will see the catchlight, even if only a small indication. This will give you an idea of exactly where to place a catchlight if you cannot just brighten it selectively. Unless you've looked at tens of catchlights, this is really helpful in figuring out where to place one. Some other hints: catchlights are generally gray, not white; you can use a brush tool to create a catchlight in post-processing. I often use a polygon tool for an irregular catchlight or modify a circular catchlight with a black brush. Your goal is always to make it look as natural as possible. Since you won't always capture a natural catchlight, learning how to add one is a good skill to learn and is worth practicing.
 
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ArbyG43 said:
Re> catchlight in a very dark eye. If you select and brighten the eye, you often will see the catchlight, even if only a small indication. This will give you an idea of exactly where to place a catchlight if you cannot just brighten it selectively. Unless you've looked at tens of catchlights, this is really helpful in figuring out where to place one. Some other hints: catchlights are generally gray, not white; you can use a brush tool to create a catchlight in post-processing. I often use a polygon tool for an irregular catchlight or modify a circular catchlight with a black brush. Your goal is always to make it look as natural as possible. Since you won't always capture a natural catchlight, learning how to add one is a good skill to learn and is worth practicing.
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Thanks for the suggestions Arby. I do often check the eyes by bringing up the exposure to see what might be lurking in the dark, available to enhance one way or another. Sometimes an iris or a subtle catchlight is there and can be touched up. I don’t usually like to add things artificially if they aren’t there to begin with.
 
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JSD said:
Thanks for the suggestions Arby. I do often check the eyes by bringing up the exposure to see what might be lurking in the dark, available to enhance one way or another. Sometimes an iris or a subtle catchlight is there and can be touched up. I don’t usually like to add things artificially if they aren’t there to begin with.
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I understand and appreciate your reluctance. If you are comfortable with enhancing your image, a catchlight often adds depth and life. Try a with-and-without test.
 
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JSD said:
Thanks for the suggestions Arby. I do often check the eyes by bringing up the exposure to see what might be lurking in the dark, available to enhance one way or another. Sometimes an iris or a subtle catchlight is there and can be touched up. I don’t usually like to add things artificially if they aren’t there to begin with.
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Nice shot. It ultimately comes down to taste, of course, but I'm with you; I happy to enhance what's there in a photo to make it more aesthetically pleasing (or brush stuff out), and I'm not applying journalistic rules (eg don't change reality in the photo) to post production, at all, for wildlife photography, but re the catchlight -- I wouldn't add one to one of my photos (maybe why I have a room full of artificial lights for portraits LOL). As for the rock LOL I don't have a problem with it -- likely might if I was considering this shot for printing and framing -- but generally a bit of context in this photo is good for me; think it adds to the photograph. There is also a bit of science involved re something that 'distracts' in a photo in that such makes the brain bounce between subject and distraction and ultimately pay more attention to the main subject as one scans the image. Of course at what point the distraction is overwhelming so it becomes the point of attention is the line not to be crossed that has to be worried about. In any event as an image on the screen certainly I'm good with the rock :)
 
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ssheipel said:
Nice shot. It ultimately comes down to taste, of course, but I'm with you; I happy to enhance what's there in a photo to make it more aesthetically pleasing (or brush stuff out), and I'm not applying journalistic rules (eg don't change reality in the photo) to post production, at all, for wildlife photography, but re the catchlight -- I wouldn't add one to one of my photos (maybe why I have a room full of artificial lights for portraits LOL). As for the rock LOL I don't have a problem with it -- likely might if I was considering this shot for printing and framing -- but generally a bit of context in this photo is good for me; think it adds to the photograph. There is also a bit of science involved re something that 'distracts' in a photo in that such makes the brain bounce between subject and distraction and ultimately pay more attention to the main subject as one scans the image. Of course at what point the distraction is overwhelming so it becomes the point of attention is the line not to be crossed that has to be worried about. In any event as an image on the screen certainly I'm good with the rock :)
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Thanks to you and Arby for commenting.

It certainly comes down to taste. As to the rock I have come to the conclusion that as is, it detracts because it's a bit awkward for the composition. If it was less of an odd chunk in the corner, and contributed more to framing the bird, then it would be better. I have others Im working on that may achieve this.
Adding non existing elements versus enhancing what's there is part of the never ending balancing act. (y)

Could I ask folks to check my other post, the one called ZZZZZs on the wing? In particular I would appreciate further thoughts on the eyes in that hummer.

This is such a great forum, its fun to hear from people around the world. Long may it last! Kudos to Steve P.
 
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For me, the little lighter area in the eye is sufficient. Some photos have a catchlight, others not. sometimes a little is enough. As far as the position in the picture, there is a little more room in front of the Hummer, which shows him flying into the photo. What most have said about the rock...agreement. Marvelous photo!
 
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Flyboy said:
For me, the little lighter area in the eye is sufficient. Some photos have a catchlight, others not. sometimes a little is enough. As far as the position in the picture, there is a little more room in front of the Hummer, which shows him flying into the photo. What most have said about the rock...agreement. Marvelous photo!

Thanks for commenting. Wondering why much of your post is crossed out?
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I like the hummingbird. Nice detail and just the right amount of blur on the wings to give it a little action.
 
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JSD...I have no idea why some is crossed out. . I tried to get rid of it, but couldn't. Just another case of "Never let anything electronic know you area in a hurry!":alien:
 
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