A.T. Sparrow among the low-lit hibernal __________

[Jack Breakfast]

Greetings and here is a picture of one of the good wintry locals for your acceptance and rejection!
Canon 7d, 100-400 at 350mm
iso1600, 1/200, 5.6
P.S. I like this picture very much (why would I post a picture I didn't like?) but I should probably fix those dead-eyes? Who can tell me how? Nobody likes a deadeyed bird, maybe not even me

[Ian Wilson]

Hi Jack. Cute head-angle. The sparrow looks just a little 'soft' but maybe that's how you like it. I don't see much natural reflection in the eyes so not much to work with unless you want to clone a little bit of snow onto the right eye to form a fake highlight. I see you have the snow line up a bit over one-third from the bottom but I wonder how it would look with a little bit less on the bottom and perhaps some more on the top if you have it. Regards, Ian

[Jack Breakfast]

Hello Ian! A little soft is perfectly fine for this sort of dreamy picture, and I think you're right about losing a little from the bottom. I have no room on top, although I wish I did; what we see here is the full-frame. I think you're also quite right about the eye. Fake highlights are not my cup of tea. Deadeyes it is.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jack, lovely casual pose, and with a foods item in his beak. The colours of the sparrow pop nicely against the snowy BG,and comp wise, I would take off the top.

[Jack Breakfast]

Hi Stuart and many thanks for your feedback, it's very much appreciated.

[Jonathan Ashton]

I like the image, having read previous comments I like it with a little less at the top or a little less at the bottom. Regarding the eye you could make a mask and brighten it or simply use the Dodge tool set to Midtones to lift it it just a little.

[Diane Miller]

Beautiful and dreamy! I could do with some taken off the bottom, but I wouldn't touch the top -- it is gorgeous!

[Jack Breakfast]

Thanks birdfiends! Thanks very much indeed! Diane, you're quite right: the top MUST stay!