Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

[Mark Corpe]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7133298565_f043d5fe1f_b.jpg

Canon 1D mk IV
300mm f/4 lens + 1.4 x TC = 420mm
Aperture f/8
1/400 sec
ISO 1000
EC + 4/3

[jack williamson]

I have never heard of this bird or seen a picture of one, TFS. The bird looks really good with a good exposure and sharp. This crop does not work very well and the oof feathers distract.

Jack

[Mark Corpe]

Thanks Jack. These Jackdaws are not uncommon wild birds, seen here on a river bank close to where I live. I hear what you say about the OOF feathers, I did this deliberately because the BG contained not just feathers but duck droppings as well!
Perhaps it would have been better to use a higher aperture, focus in the BG, and then pp out the droppings? Either that or possibly better to leave the BG blurred and clone out the feathers to concentrate attention on the subject?
Something I'll think about next time :S3:

[Daniel Cadieux]

It's better that you used a larger apertue as it is almost always more pleasing when the background is rendered OOF. The feathers do distract. You could either eliminate them in post, or, since they are common in your area, photograph in an other area...or try to entice them onto a perch off the ground. You do need more space above for the composition. I also find the surroundings quite bright. Tough with the exposure but you could have given less exposure combined with flash for the subject. Something to experiment with. The blacks do look good as is...

[Mark Corpe]

Thanks Daniel.