Lark Sparrow in the Rain, Montana

Canon 1D4
500mm f4
Shot from car window

1/1250 sec
f/4.5
ISO 800

I took this a couple weeks ago while I was driving through Montana. There was a light drizzle going on, and I was out in the boonies somewhere northeast of Billings. I spotted this beautiful Lark Sparrow (the first time I'd ever seen one) in a conifer by the side of the road, and I stopped and photographed it from my rental car window.
I am wondering if people think it's ok framed like this. I just really liked the tree and the way it framed the bird. Does that appeal to others too or does the bird seem too small? Thanks so much in advance for any thoughts and critiques.

Hey, Melissa!

Good techs on a pretty bird (which I have yet to see as well).

I'd be inclined to turn this into a vertical crop, evicting the OOF branch on the viewer's left.

Thanks Ian. For comparison's sake, here's a vertical.

I prefer the vertical (possible with a touch more off the bottom). I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Well, it's certainly more traditional and I do like it as a vertical. But it also kind of bores me. I think I am attracted to the wider view partly because I am becoming more interested in including space around birds, and also perhaps because of where I took it--in a place (Montana) that is one big wide open space, and I liked how the horizontal treatment spoke of that. I'll be interested to see what others think. Thank you, Ian.

Wonderful shot.
Love the rain fall, great over the shoulder pose, wonderful background, and perch.
Me personally love the original post. It gives more of sense of being out in the rain.
If that makes sense.
Very well done.

I like the OP better than the vertical crop.
Nothing you could do about the oof branches in the FG, although I wish they were not there.

I like the original post because the bird is looking into space and the bird is located at the rule of thirds intersection point. IMO maybe there is a bit too much space though and I can see an argument to make a vertical crop but keeping the bird at the rule of thirds intersection point and looking into space. I hope you don't mind Melissa but I have posted how I would like to see a vertical crop.

I like the original post the best. Shows a sense of wide open space and shows how small they really are in their habit. Love how the background compliments the subject. A nice shot for your memories.
TFS

I like the small bird in the frame also, but perhaps a touch tighter on the LHS and bottom.

very nice Melissa, I like the repost in pane #3. the falling rain and nice BG really adds to the image

Lovely, Melissa. I prefer your original version. I love images like this, with lots of negative space. I might take just a hair more off of the bottom to try and minimize the oof foliage.

Hi Melissa

my vote is for Pane#8. I find the the bird a bit small in the OP and the OOf branch a bit too dominant because of this. #8 addresses this balance for me...


DON

The original post rocks. I like diversity in a portfolio. Small in the frame works particularly well when the subject is isolated against such a distant background...(imo). Having been to Montana a few times, I also find some kindred feelings towards what you had to say about the image/place in pane#5.

Nice in habitat shot.

Which one do you like Melissa? Nice shot. Love that rain.
I really liked your original vision Melissa. "Small in frame" is not a bif deal for me. I, infact, enjoy shots that include little more habitat. If this was mine, I would just crop little bit of left and bottom and keep the horizontal framing.
RD

I like pane 3 or 8, with a little more off the bottom -- just nothing happening in the UL quadrant in the original. Some very OOF BG elements would have made it work. Subject is detailed enough to allow that much crop. Nice catch!

Thanks so much, all. I like what Nick Clayton did, better than my vertical. But I am still attached to the original. Sometimes there is no accounting....I very much appreciate all the viewpoints though.