Orange breasted Sunbird

[Anette Mossbacher]

This bird I have found at the Cape of good hope last year in September.

MK IV
f/8 1/640
ISO 800 weather was overcast
70-200mm L IS II
Focal 175mm

DPP, Levels, curves, Shadow/Highlights, LCE, selective HP sharpening
All is welcome and highly appreciated

[Randy Stout]

Anette:

Your bird is sharp and well exposed, with interesting angle. The plants certainly are interesting as well, but the bright yellow flowers compete with the relatively small in frame bird.

If the IQ will allow, I would consider some cropping alternatives to bring out the bird a bit more.

Cheers

Randy

[dankearl]

Although the bird is overwhelmed here by the flowers, I still like the photo a lot.
A lot to look at, the flowers are very nice.
Glad you posted this, I think it is very interesting.

[jack williamson]

The bird looks excellent as do the flowers. Can't always have a clean bg.

[Dave Leroy]

Pretty neat looking photo. The bird does get lost a bit in lovely looking foliage, but the tack sharp focus draws the eye in. A very pretty looking bird.

[PhilCook]

Nice and sharp and lovely colors, exposure looks very good too, but yes it does get a little lost in the Protea flowers that tend to dominate somewhat....a different crop maybe ?

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi all,

thaaanks so much for your feedback I will try with a different crop as well with blurring the BG a bit more due those pretty flowers. I like the image size, will see if I can crop a bit tighter with IQ. I cropped it already. Will check.

Thanks again for all your input

Ciao
Anette

[Jonathan Ashton]

Tricky one, I think you wanted to show the bird in the beautiful immediate surroundings - which you have, but the blooms tend to compete a little bit for attention, a simple crop along the top and right side would eliminate 3 blooms.

[Don Lacy]

I can see why other feel the bird is being over powered by its surroundings the foliage around the bird is brighter then the subject drawing the viewers attention. This is an easy fix is PS some old fashion dodging and burning can fix this and now the subject is brighter then its surroundings and viewers eye will naturally settle on the brightest area of an image. Here I used two different brightness layers with mask to tone down the surroundings and brighten the subject. I really like the stoey being told here well done on capture.

[Bill Dix]

I like the image a lot. Don's repost does help, and I could imagine some further cropping. But (and I hope this isn't heresy), sometimes it's not just about the bird. The overall image, flowers included, make for an attractive presentation.

[Melissa Groo]

But (and I hope this isn't heresy), sometimes it's not just about the bird. The overall image, flowers included, make for an attractive presentation.

Bill puts it nicely. This is a richly layered and textured image that I think is fine as is in the OP, and is a treat to view. Very painterly.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

I'm with Melissa it is a great backdrop for this bird. I do wish for a slightly better bird pose but still got my attention