Poor Little House Sparrow

It seems that the house sparrow never gets much positive attention. So as the temps were -21 in the western Chicago suburbs a couple days ago and it seems that the snow has been continuous this year I decided to give him what every other bird gets, it's 15 minutes of glory. They are actually colorful shades of brown.

Canon 40D, 500mm w/1.4 TC, ISO 200, 1/250 at f5.6, evaluative metering +1.33 stops --- snowy, cloudy and cold. Just started doing winter photography so any suggestions other than bundling up are both desirable and appreciated. With the help from both of Arthur Morris's great books "The Art of Bird Photography" I and II I am learning and birds are more fun and easier to capture. If Art could only control the weather but I guess that's what makes photography so much fun. I would normally try to get near 1/1000 sec exposure for little birds but oops. What ever works. This is also my first post. Enjoying the magic!

Welcome to BPN, Dave! Very nice first post. I like the angle and you found a good-looking specimen. The exposure looks good, too. I wish the bird had faced you some more. I would sharpen the bird a bit more and add canvas at the bottom for the 'virtual feet' if you have. Keep them coming!

Hi Dave, Welcome, and thanks for the kudos. Axel's comments are right on, as was your EXP compensation. I would add that the BKGR is a bit distracting. Best to set up some perches near a feeder with a clean BKGR.

Wow, my monitor must need calibrating cause that lower left corner doesn't seem to have much detail in the snow...it seems kind of hot to me.

I agree with the BG being a bit busy. The snow on the greenery wouldn't be so bad if those two branches weren't going vertically through your background. I also think the bird is a bit soft in the body...maybe just a touch more sharpening?

Nice to have you with us, Dave!

You are right Axel, it could use a little more sharpening. I tend to under sharpen some as I have seen so many photos that are obviously over sharpened on the web. Unfortunately there is no more canvas. Could clone some in but it would be hard to recreate the fluffiness by the legs. I really liked the way the feet sank into the fluffy snow. The background is a little busy even to me Arty but to my eyes the bird makes the bottom of a triangle with the two evergreen branches and the two brown branches so it made visual sense to me. There isn't allot of contrast in the lower left because of flat overcast sky.


I am learning so thanks much for the feedback greatly appreciated. Did some tweaking.

Capture the Magic!