Chestnut-capped Brush-finch

[Bill Holsten]

This is one of my favorite cloud forest birds. Photographed last month in Costa Rica on workshop with Doug Brown and Greg Basco. Bird attracted with papaya. I had to add canvas in post all the way around, but mostly on the left, as I had a bit too much focal length for the size of this bird. I also cleaned some papaya off the beak. In a perfect world, the head would be rotated a few degrees towards the viewer to provide direct eye contact.

1D Marl IV, 500mm, 1/200", f/6.3, ISO 800, fill flash, tripod

Critique and comments welcome and encouraged.

[laurie golden]

Also one of my favorite Costa Rica birds. Great that you have him off of the ground and singing. Good job adding canvas - I would have added less on the bottom and more on the top. I love the pose and the background.

[Nick Palmieri]

Cool looking little bird! I like the perch and the BG looks nice. Maybe a tad more NR in the BG.

[Arthur Morris]

Excellent self critique on the head position. The worst thing about the hrad being rotated away is that it makes it seem that the bird was well above you.... Otherwise very nice with a pretty bird, a good EXP, and a nice perch & BKGR. And yes to a bit of noise in the BKGR.

[Marina Scarr]

The details and colors you acquired in this image are amazing!!! I am ok with the head angle b/c I like the uniqueness of this bird looking up as though there was something for us to see up there. BG and perch are super. It seems you had a pretty rewarding trip to CR.

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Gorgeous bird, sweet perch, bg and details.
The image has a very slight blue cast on my monitor. I'd reduce cyan a tad and/or add a slight bit of warming filter to remove the slight flashed look.
I'd be sure to embed an sRGB profile in the image.
I've enjoyed all your CR images and am looking forward to more. TFS Bill.