This American Tree Sparrow was shot around my feeder area on March 8, 2008 during a two day snowstorm in West Liberty, Ohio. Being an amateur birder, I first mistook the feathered friend for a Chipping Sparrow, but soon learned from my mistake.
This bird was shot with:
Canon Rebel XTi
75-300mm F/4-F/5.6 USM III
at 300mm
F/5.6
1/640 sec.
ISO 400
I did some post-processing in LR and PS, removing some snow spots with the cloning tool. I didn't want to remove too much snow, as to still give the effect that it is snowing. I did first clone the snow spot next to his crown out, but it then appeared to look empty. I'm not sure if I should leave it in.
This is my first image I've put in for critiquing, so I am really wanting to hear your C & C's PLEASE.
Well done Stefan on your first post to a BPN critique forum! It's a brave thing to put yourself out there but it's worth it in the end (don't ask how I know this!).
I like this image. The head angle of the bird is perfect for me and the pose suggests action/moving ahead. This is a great species too! I have not seen them yet at my feeders. Redpolls and siskins have only just shown up.
I think the composition of the image could be improved with more space above (almost a rule of thumb- more space above than below) and more space in the direction the bird is looking. If you are not able to crop for this you may have to make canvas, which is a challenge but can be done! Also I think the bird could be brightened up a bit, in particular the eye which is in a sense the key to the image. I also ran a round of sharpening. You had all the basics here but some post-processing can draw out an image. To illustrate what I'm suggesting I took the liberty of editing your image and reposting here.
PS I'm working on my laptop while traveling so I hope the balance of the repost works on other monitors.
Hi Stefan,
A big welcome to the BPN family,
I like your capture...You display sharp details and good color rendition...the head angle is good and you have a sharp eye...the image is a tad under exposed, and the bird is too centered...I modified your base composition to illustrate a few of these points...I cropped from the left side of the frame to off center your subject...I added canvas on top to give him more head room, and added more canvas to the right side...I also toned down the whites and adjusted your mid-tones on the bird. I also lightened the background and selective sharpened the eye and the contour of the feathers...and finally adjusted saturation and contrast just slightly...see if this presents best to you...:cool:
Hey John,
We have to play the Lotto...:eek::D
Very good advise given John...Its a real pleasure that you are visiting ETL...glad to have you Sir...:cool:
Hard to beat isn't it Stefan. Post a picture and you get all that excellent advice for free. I like your photo very much, Really like the detail you have in the snow and how you captured the bird in that position with a good ha. For me the snow on the bird adds to the photo. I did find your crop too tight and a tad dark so like both of the reposts.
Dave
Good suggestions On of the first things we look at is the eye area for sharpness Sort of makes the image, hand holding the 300 with the 1.6 crop factor camera is a lot of magnification. Looking forward to the next !!
Thanks everyone for the insight and encouragement. I've been checking this throughout the day, but wanted to make sure I didn't comment too early. As far as the re-crop for the Tree Sparrow, thanks John and Gus. It looks much better with your cropping implemented. I'll get back to work with it, and see what I can come up with. I have already taken some of these suggestions into consideration when working on my next bird, which will be up hopefully soon.
There's a cyan cast, which you might prefer to keep. Some people do in snow scenes. Here's an adjusted version for comparison. One levels adjustment layer overall, and a second applied just to the bird.
American Tree Sparrow in a Cold Mess
