1/2 cup pecans seems like too little.

The photograph was taken by Food52 not the recipe author. Periodically Food52's multimedia team will take liberties ("artistic freedom") and deviate from the original author's vision.

If you want to make the author's pie, follow the text instructions. If you want something that looks like what is in the photo, increase the pecan quantity and leave some in halves.

Personally I think the topping in the photo looks excessive and unbalanced. The quantity called for by the author sounds more appropriate to me.

It's entirely your call on how to proceed.