Another gray catbird

[Wendy Kates]

I shot this image in the bird's own habitat in Sapsucker Woods at the Cornell Ornithology Center. I cropped it on both the left and right, by about 20%. I didn't do any additional post-processing: it seemed pretty sharp to me and the exposure seemed adequate. But I am eager for your suggestions. In addition to post-processing suggestions, I'm also wondering if the background is too distracting, and if I should try to lighten the eye. (And if so, how?) Thanks!
Canon Xsi
300 f/4 with 1/4 extender, at 420 mm
ISO 200
f5.6, 1/320 s
tripod

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Wendy, I like the pose and the action captured. You really crowded the bottom of the frame and cut off the bird's tail and part of one toe. I do find the background distracting as it is much brighter than the bird in some places. What the eye is lacking is any highlight or catchlight. Lightening won't help, but you can add a catchlight in if you are careful about it. I think the fact that the bird looked down made the angle of the sun miss the eye, so you didn't get a reflection. Was the sun high and to the right? As for sharpness, I think it needs more. Look at P-A.'s post. Keep shooting and posting Wendy!

[John Chardine]

Hi Wendy- Good comments by Kerry. One of the most difficult things about bird/wildlife photography is trying to keep your eye on the surroundings in the viewfinder as well as the subject. In a sense you are looking at the whole scene at once and making decisions about where to put the subject. This takes practise.

There is some detail in the eye (iris and pupil) that you could "open up" (I checked in Photoshop). You will do a better job if you shot a raw image and then make the adjustment in Adobe Camera Raw by using the Shadows and Blacks sliders or the local adjustment brush with which you can just lighten the eye without affecting the rest of the image. In Photoshop you could use the Dodge tool (brush) of an appropriate size and strength of effect and just lighten the eye a little.

[Bob Miller]

HI Wendy! I agree with all of Kerry's comments. I would add that try to remember that the bg is as important as the subject.....Its nice to see habitat but it needs to be simple if the picture is going to work. As far as the eye goes good suggestions have been made. I can add that sometimes i use a a screen blending mode followed by a black mask on which i paint back in the eye. Sometimes this works and sometimes not depending on how much detail can be recovered.

[Wendy Kates]

Thanks to all for your helpful critiques. I'll go back to my original photo in raw, and try to make the changes to the eye. Unfortunately I don't think I can do much to change the background at this point...next time, I may have to locate an attractive background / perch, and just wait with my camera until a bird lands on it!