Western Lesser Goldfinch at Fountain

[Tom Callahan]

Canon RebelXT
Sigma 170-500mm captured at 400
ISO 100
1/200 sync
F/8
Multiple off camera flash, 3 on the bird one on the BG
av
eval metering
cropped a bit, sharpened and some sat.

[Arthur Morris]

Sharp. Nicely composed. I am not sure if the big black blob is a rock or a water bubble; whatever it is, it overpowers the bird. Looks a bit dark, and I would like to see the other foot. Were you trying to get birds to come to a perch, or trying for them on the fountain? Later and love, artie

[Tony Whitehead]

Hi Tom , You've gone to a lot of effort with your lighting. My only comment with that would be possibly to raise the lights a bit - - it seems we have a lot of side light from both side but not much from above. We are used to seeing things lit from the sky so if the light comes from both sides it calls attention to the fact that it is artificial. The real problem for me is the lump of water (I assume welling up from a hole in the rock). It is just not natural and is refelecting the lights. The first impression is not "nice bird" but "gee what is that blob?"

[Tom Callahan]

Thanks for the input. It all makes sense. Yes, the white blob is the top of the fountain where the water comes out.