Erik, Mom is feeding the kids in an orderly fashion, and there is no pandemonium of them trying to pick on each others eyes or the eyes on Mom in a desperate way. The image is very sharp, and the colors are well handled and not saturated. I find the green branch to be obstructing and distracting. There is enough information in the image for a tighter crop, still showing the essence of it.   Posted: 07/02/2024 16:36:56

Erik, thanks for a super nature shot. Lighting is good, background nicely subdued and the birds are sharp. I am fascinated by how 'spiky' the chicks look! I agree with Isaac on cropping out the bright green foreground leaves and branch.   Posted: 07/08/2024 14:01:10

I really like the interaction with the parent and the chicks. The problem as I see it is composition and lighting. I would definitely crop the right side and create a vertical composition. Next, I would use the masking tools in Photoshop and lighten the chick in shadows. The masking tools are incredibly useful, and I would encourage everyone to learn and use them. Obviously they can't be used on Nature subject in PSA exhibitions.   Posted: 07/08/2024 14:56:23

Erik, this is a very compelling nature shot. I love to see the interaction of the parent with the chicks, but would always draw my eye is the looks on the chicks faces. You have captured that perfectly. From your experience can three of these chicks survive to fledging from the nest? Can the parents feed three of them successfully? Thanks for sharing.   Posted: 07/09/2024 00:20:18

Lovely nature photo, the chicks are very sharp and we can see their eyes, their positions are spot on to drive the narrative. I do like the idea of brightening the chicks and perhaps darken the lower left hand corner a tad. I always look forward to your photos from Alligator farm.   Posted: 07/12/2024 00:17:35

Hi Erik
Your nature images always bring us to the right were the action is I never feel like I am looking through a telephoto but as in this case stood right next yo the nest which shows you expertise as a nature photographer,the 2 crops are very very good and well thought out but the branch forward rhs for me adds to the enviroment the nest is situated in which is part of telling the story for me the main subject is so strong the eye goes straight past the branch and is held by the main subject of the image for me some circuit judges are getting to clinical nature is as it is and you show it as it is to a very high standard.
Well done Erik.   Posted: 07/16/2024 19:40:33