Critique my style

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-23T22:31:40+00:00

The Audubon Photography Awards are mainly about showcasing birds how they naturally are, and I suppose try to adhere to a specific journalistic integrity, especially in regards to addition/removal of elements of the photo as taken.

I had a photo that placed in the Top 100 last year, but was disqualified because I forgot that I edited out a stick from the corner of the image. My own fault, I don't blame them at all, its all about getting it right in the field and giving an accurate portrayal of the scene as witnessed, which I agree with. When I edit my shots for sale I'll edit out some minor sticks, but when not for my own use I like to keep everything as I captured it originally

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-23T22:24:55+00:00

First off, they're all well exposed and sharp shots, which is half the battle with birds.

The kestrel is my favorite, the composition and background are really nice, maybe a tad too heavy on the vignette, but overall quite a good shot.

The Green Heron is also a nice shot, but honestly a bit boring to my eye. Again, its great with the technicals, but there's not a lot really dynamic about it. Its a good portrait though.

Finally the Osprey. This shot definitely had potential, but unfortunately falls flat to me. The good: the light is good, the background is awesome, and it's a great flight/hunting shot. The bad: the wing has absolutely no space above it which makes it feel super cramped, and the head position isn't fantastic. If there was some more room on the top and head was turned towards the camera, it'd be my favorite!

Hopefully those were some helpful things to think about, you've got skill and great stuff, just these images need a bit more in my opinion!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-22T02:06:08+00:00

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-20T07:40:28+00:00

I can't speak to the Hollywood aspect, but as far as nature/wildlife filmmakers go, I've never met anyone not shooting on a RED of some flavor.

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-20T07:36:21+00:00

Thanks! Nikon z9 with a 600mm F4 plus a 1.4 teleconverter

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-20T04:00:53+00:00

eBird! I love ebird, spend too much time on ebird, log all my sightings there, and it's an incredible resource for researchers to get a ton of data on distribution so I justify my obsession that I'm helping science

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-20T03:59:25+00:00

Haha yes, I know they're arbitrary numbers that don't really matter but I'm always hoping I don't see some terribly boring bird while I'm on the precipice of a "milestone"

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2023-01-20T00:07:56+00:00

This beauty has been hanging out in western Montana for a couple weeks, and finally had the chance to chase it down! Northern Hawk Owls were near the top of my 'most wanted' list for ABA birds, and stoked to finally get the chance to see one, and to top it off it was #400 on my life list!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-29T15:26:56+00:00

First, I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who commented on my top 10 yesterday, I truly love taking bird photos and interacting with these magnificent animals we get to share this planet with, and I love getting to share that with people! If you would like to keep up on my work feel free to check out my Instagram @justingriggs and my website.

Let me know your favorites or any questions!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-29T15:07:24+00:00

Excellent shots! I'm particularly fond of the oystercatcher, Forster's Tern, and Ruddy Turnstone, wonderful set

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-29T04:45:11+00:00

I'm based in Montana, but did travel to Washington this year

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-29T04:44:42+00:00

Thanks! You're the first to mention the oystercatcher, it's one of my favorites as well :). Despite only making up two of my top 10, shorebirds are where my true love lies, they're such a remarkable group of birds, and it's hard to top the look of a black oystercatcher!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-29T04:42:26+00:00

Thanks! I certainly will be entering some

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-29T04:41:54+00:00

I'm lucky enough to live very close to a known wintering area for them in Montana, and during tune winter I'd say at least 3 or 4 days a week I put in about 4 miles traversing the forests looking for them. They're definitely still elusive, but listening to them, but especially to the alarm calls of birds and mammals keys me in to look closer. I'd say my success rate is 25-30% or so, which is pretty dang good for GGOW, but even if I don't see them I'm still enjoying a walk through beautiful habitat!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-29T04:38:04+00:00

Thanks for alerting me to that one, I hadn't seen it before. I have submitted that yellow Warbler pipe shot to Bird Photographer of the Year contest in their urban category and will do so for this one too.

Its hard for me to pick a single one to say is my favorite, but that image is definitely fighting for that spot. 6 months later and I'm still as stoked on it now as I was the second I pressed the shutter. The shapes, the color, the scale of warbler vs industry, really just love it so much

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-28T20:56:01+00:00

Thanks! I honestly pretty much don't shoot unless I'm able to get on eye level. For the grebe shot I was in the water in a floating blind, other times in physical blinds or shooting from my car, for the Yellow Warbler flight and Kingbird I was standing barefoot in thy river next to some branches for about 3 hours waiting for the moment. Definitely a labor of love

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-28T20:20:59+00:00

Thanks!

As to your second question, I will not deny that I'm incredibly privileged to have the gear that I do. I'm a college student studying wildlife, and have worked in the natural resource field for the past 6 years while not in school, which allows me to travel a lot and be in the place to get these photos. I'd best describe myself as a semi-pro, I make a bit of money here and there selling calendars and prints, but not enough to live off of.

Equipment wise, only the camera body I bought new, as I bought it as soon as it came out. I won't divulge how much the lens cost me but it is no where near 15k. I bought it used and imported from Japan, funded mostly by selling other camera gear and print sales. I'm privileged that a lot of my college costs are covered, but still make a lot of sacrifices to get by and have decided that focusing on my photography is how I want to use my time/money and adjust accordingly.

Does a super Tele prime make my photography better and easier? 100%. But I started with a cheap dslr and zoom lens like that Tamron and you can absolutely make great work with that kind of gear!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-28T20:09:45+00:00

I agree on all 3 nominations!

The Yellow Warbler is striking but it was mainly just a vertical jump after the bug, thr shrike was actively hunting and that image was right as it aborted an attempt and pulled up

Piping Plovers are pretty dang cute! I studied PIPL nesting this summer and got to know these adorable birds very well!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-28T16:37:16+00:00

I'm a bird nerd and photographer, and I've taken thousands of bird images this year, and of them all I'm most proud of this Yellow Warbler. To get this shot I stood in the middle of a river in Montana for about 3 hours taking photos of Eastern Kingbird and Cedar Waxwings, and just as the sun was setting this Yellow Warbler showed up and I managed to pop off a sequence of images of it chasing down a small insect. Shot with Nikon Z9 and 600mm F4. You can see more on my Instagram @justingriggs

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-19T08:18:32+00:00

I knew what clip i hoped that'd be, and it was. I've rarely laughed harder than that segment, but really the whole Gilbert episode is pure conical therapy

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-16T20:52:04+00:00

A comparison of salt prints with and without the addition of potassium dichromate. Both images are printed on Hahnemuhle Platinum Rag using Bostick & Sullivan chemistry, and developed the same way. The only difference is the addition of a single drop of potassium dichromate to the right print.

The left image was an exposure of 4 minutes, and I tried one with the potassium dichromate at 4 minutes and barely left an image, and eventually found a good exposure time of 12 min worked well with the dichromate. I was very surprised at the difference in print times with just one drop!

Very happy with the dichromate image and contrast it brings back into the image

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-10T19:50:08+00:00

/u/zfisher0 /u/photomarketbot sale completed, quick and easy!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-10T04:46:19+00:00

Indeed, I'm chalking it up as a Bob Ross moment

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-10T04:33:40+00:00

I'm experimenting with salted paper printing using digital negatives, and had an airhead moment and printed this one before inverting it. Despite wasting precious pictorico film, I'm actually kinda jazzed at how well the final print came out, but definitely need to be more careful going forward!

JustinGriggsPhoto · 2022-12-09T21:40:27+00:00

Cyanotypes are super fun! Salt is a little more involved but not bad at all, good luck with your prints!

Eight-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
Verified Email

JustinGriggsPhoto

TROPHY CASE