Lesser Goldfinch

[Aidan Briggs]

One from my backyard. This guy was rather ratty looking, and required a bit of clean up. Unfortunately, PS elements only lets you use certain tools for 16-bit files. So I had to convert to 8-bit to use the clone stamp tool, and to create different layers. CS3 might be in my future...

50D, 100-400 at 400
1/640, f/7.1, ISO 200
Tripod, Blind

[Stu Bowie]

You have exposed the colours nicely, sharp, and like the soft light. I would crop a bit off the left to the edge of the leaf. Well captured Aidan.

[Arthur Morris]

SH with a good EXP. Would wish for a bit of a body turn so that we could see the whole tail. If you are gonna crop from the left, I would lose the leaf first so that you do not have to crop right up to the edge of the 2nd leaf. And then I would take some off the right.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle, exposure control and eye contact. Another vote for removing the clipped leaf on the left.