Defensive Ovenbird

[Cal Walters]

After some feedback from Svante Larsson, Diane Miller & Warren Spreng on the Eager to Learn Forum, I think I've got this working. Shot in the forests of Southern Ohio. All builds welcome.

Deets:
Canon 7D Mk II
Canon EF 100-400mm Mk II w/ 1.4x (560mm)
f/8
ISO 2500
1/80 sec
0 EC
Spot Metering
AV mode

[Marina Scarr]

Welcome to the avian forum, Cal. Glad to hear that you've been getting some good advice over in ETL!! I find this an interesting and aesthetically pleasing image. It has a dreamy feel to it. The pose on the bird is fun, and I like how he's looking right at you. I think I would try a crop off of the right (to just pas that little knob on the top) and to just under your signature. It moves the bird a little bit more to the right and gives your subject a bit more attention.

Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[Randy Stout]

Cal:

Has an interesting, ethereal feel to it based on subdued lighting and out of focus background. Perky subject, you were fortunate to get him fairly sharp on the head with that shutter speed and focal length. Hand held or tripod?

I would be tempted to lighten the bird slightly and to correct the green cast on the bird.

The diagonal of the perch works well.

Cheers

Randy

PS: Marina and I were typing at exactly the same time!

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Cal, I like the forward inquisitive pose, and nicely perched against the sky part of the BG. Marina's suggestion on the a different comp will work, and I agree, there is a green cast to the Ovenbird.

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Wonderful image, Cal. Like the soft light and mood created by forrest surround. Agree with Marina's crop suggestion. Well done.




Geoffrey

[Diane Miller]

This has a lot of potential, but I don't think it's at its best yet. There is a slight greenish cast -- not unnatural in the surroundings but maybe worth a look at tweaking. And I like Marina's crop suggestion.

The main issue for me is the flatness and grayness of the light area in the BG. An area like that can be tamed without making it gray. You would need to go back to the raw processing to do that. You said you processed with "Digital Camera Raw." Do you mean Adobe Camera Raw? You have great leeway there to adjust the highlights. I'd go back and work on the conversion there -- if what works best for the bright spot isn't best for the rest of the image, do 2 conversions and layer them in PS and mask.

[William Dickson]

I like this Cal. What a great pose and look on the birds face. First time I have seen this bird, so thanks for sharing. Looks a very natural setting. Good work.

Will

[arash_hazeghi]

The pose is interesting, and Marina had some good cropping suggestions to get rid of some of the distracting elements, Randy mentioned the darkness and the color cast. Overall, IMO, the bird is too dark, soft and noisy which makes it difficult to work with this image.


TFS

[Daniel Cadieux]

I love the habitat you present us here, really cool! I actually like the crop as presented too. Excellent pose!! A bit of a greenish cast, I agree, and I too fond the IQ on the subject soft and noisy...did you need to lighten the face and chest/belly it in post?

[Cal Walters]

Thanks all, back to the drawing board. I'll see what I can come up with .