Fieldfare in the snow.

Hi all, I don't have a lot of experience with photographing in the snow so I'm hoping you like this Fieldfare shot I took today. I'm really quite pleased with it. I have noticed what looks like a blown patch of snow in front of the apple, but it's not overly bothering me. Any thoughts and comments appreciated.

7D, 100-400mm, f6.3, ISO800, 1/800ss. Processed in DPP and PSE 10. Nik detail extractor to extract some detail on the bird itself, plus a little amount of USM, levels etc.

Lovely shot Simon, not too sure about the use of filter was it really needed, only mentioned it becasue there is a little noise in the bird. If it was mine I think I would clone the apple core it looks very distracting - maybe a tad oversaturated?

Thanks Jonathan. You're absolutely right about the apple being a tad over saturated. I must admit I thought I'd reduced that. I actually quite like the apple as I thought it gave some interest. I was really just experimenting with detail extractor, so maybe over do it a bit.

Thanks

I like the apple. And the bird. DE does not look overdone here. In fact, I would lighten the face a bit and sharpen it a bit. And lighten the iris a tad.

The white thing in the upper middle is pretty much an image-wrecker for me.... Is it some sort of post?

Thanks Arthur. Yes I agree about the white part of the background. It's in fact a tree as I'm lying on the ground to get the low angle. I did try reducing its tones but not much I can do with it. Shame really. Thanks for the comments.

YAW. With some effort and a lot of skill it would be possible to eliminate it. Assuming that this was a set-up, who put the apple in front of the tree?

Hi Arthur,

It wasn't a setup shot really. I'd just thrown some apples out in the garden and being stuck at home because of the snow, I just used the opportunity to take a few shots, so not much pre thought had gone into it. I'm only running Photoshop Elements 10 so not sure that's up to the job of tackling that adjustment compared the Photoshop.

Thanks

Hopefully a lesson learned....