Singing Chestnut-Sided Warbler

1 Attachment(s)

Canon 1D4
500mm
Gitzo/Wimberley

1/3200
f/5.0
ISO 800

Taken last May during Matthew Studebaker's excellent Allegany Songbirds workshop (New York). Playback used.
Just going over some warbler shots from spring and summer and found this and worked it up today. Crop, sharpening, and I cloned out a stark branch that extended to the left.
Appreciate all comments and critiques.

Melissa:

Very sharp, lovely colors, pretty BG, nice pose.

Flowers are very nice, but wish they were in the frame fully and not chopped off.

I might consider removing the thorn in front of the bird.

I don't know this bird at all, but the whites look a bit dingy. However, the white blossoms look very good, so have to figure that is just the way the birds plumage is.

Cheers

Randy

1 Attachment(s)

Thanks for your help, Randy. I was struggling with the crop. What do you think of this looser one that includes the above blossom? I also brightened the whites on the bird a bit, I think you were right that there was a bit of a dingy look.

You have been saving this one?
Fantastic setting, exposure, pose and BG.
I like the comp in the OP.
I too, might remove the thorn in front of the bird, but not a big deal.
Excellent songbird photo.

Melissa:

I like the whites better on the bird in the repost. I prefer the size of the bird in the original, but feel that the upper clump of flowers does look better with the looser crop.

I would say overall I prefer the repost slightly.

Shows how perch selection is so important for setups.

Cheers

Randy

It's sweet. That thorn really bugs me. I'm not much of one for altering images all that much if possible, but in this case, it just doesn't fit with the mood of the image.

Love the RP. This image is really visually pleasing. I love the colors, the BG and the singing pose. I'd keep the thorn esp b/c I would be entering this one in a contest or two.

Sweet Image.

Mellisa, I love this image, very sharp, beautiful colors, good BG. I like the OP crop as the upper flowers and leaves kind of framing the bird . The repost crop had a branch that draws the eye of the viewer away from the bird. It's just personal preference,

Excellent details, love the perch, great pose, very nice background, and nice light, Melissa.

Melissa:
Magnificent image of little warbler on nice perch.
Love the singing pose with drooped wings,nice colors, beautiful BG and lovely composition.

Regards,
Satish.

Hi Melissa, lovely singing pose, and I like the overall light in this. The overall image is well exposed, love the colours, and the sharpness is spot on. Everything in your repost works better.

Beautiful shot Melissa. Love the singing pose and flowers very nice. Very nice.

Gary.

Wonderful image Mellisa, great comp and it make me wish for spring.

Excellent Mellisa, love the perch and white flowers. I also like the space and small bird, killer BG too. The open beak and the bird calling finishes the image off so nicely.

Hi Melissa - beautiful colors, sharpness and sweet bokeh. I prefer the rp with more of the top flowers. Excellent image.

TFS,
Rachel

Here is a case where it shows how a songbird small in the frame can work very well. Personally I am OK with the OP but both work well.

I think either crop works. I prefer the first. Just seems like the foliage is the main subject on the second and there just so happens to be a bird in there. Which is often the case when the perch selected is a flowery one and the bird small in frame as composed here.