Speckled Mouse Bird

[Jeni Williams]

Posted this one because I got the wholeTail ! Unfortunately still the wall perch.
Bit of information re this species:
Colius striatus - common fruit eating birds usually in parties of up to a dozen which maintain contact by call. When feeding they clamber mouse-like about the bushes.(hence the name)
Frequent dense bush, scrub and forest fringes.
size. 30 - 35cms.
Exif as per previous posting.
PS - crop, contrast, cloned out bright bg behind top1/3 tail, leaves bottom rt.
Question: I left more space in front of the bird but then it places it plumb centre, so I tried to get the head bottom left 1/3 and did a tighter crop, which would be the better composition?

[Katie Rupp]

Hi Jeni, I like this one much better. It's sharp, good head angle and wonderful tail! You might want to smooth out the background as it looks like there are some cloning marks. As for the crop, I'm still not very competent in that arena but it looks good to me, given that you have that wall perch. Let's see what the experts say. Oh, and I like the feet, nice detail, there.

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Jeni,
nicely done; you have a good head angle, with good eye contact; sharp details in the feathers. The subject is place well in the frame. I like the soft green background; and you got to love that vertical tail...:eek::D
I like it...looking foward for more of your creations...:cool:

[Alfred Forns]

Love it Jeni !! That is one photogenic little critter !!!

Crop works very well and love the pose !!! For sharpening I might do a mask and do more on the head area while holding back some for the body.

btw dof looks good and if you have an iPnone might want to download the new dof application. Very useful !!!

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Jeni,
What a great little bird!! No nits from me - well done!
Regards,
Nicki

[Jeni Williams]

Thanks for the comments! Be prepared for the "Speckled Mouse bird" saga - got them today on natural perches!! :cool: :D :D