Yellow-headed Blackbird

[Chad Griggs]

[original pic removed]

D90 300 F4 1.7 TC
500mm ISO 250 f/6.7 1/1000

[Randy Stout]

Chad:

Excellent pose and I think your exposure compromise, to not smoke the orange, was the best choice, even though the blacks are blocked a bit.

As a matter of personal taste, I would eliminate or greatly reduce the reed shooting up into the air beside him on the left. It competes too much for my attention. That would also allow you to crop down from the top a bit.

A very nice fellow.

Thanks for sharing.

Randy

[Aidan Briggs]

Nice singing pose, and good exposure on the yellows. I would also remove the reed shooting upwards, and would crop from the left and top. AS Randy mentioned, you have lost a lot of detail in the blacks.

Keep them coming!

[Chad Griggs]

Thanks for the comments. The changes have been made. I cloned out a few twigs already, so I didn't know how far I wanted to push it. I think it turned out pretty good anyway. I also lightened up the blacks a bit. I like strong blacks, I could be compensating for my monitor though, so I just moved it a hair. Let me know what you think.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3544361299_e15b73bb75_o.jpg

[Francis Bossé]

Great action! I which the bird was a bit more left but still good looking picture.