Just a fairly simple shot of our state bird. I've never had one sit still and let me get so close. The light was favorable for this image as well. The lower part of the chest was blown :confused: by about 1/3 of a stop.
Perch, light and BG look great. I would sharpen the bird more and wish the branch in the foreground were not there. I would put the bird further to the left in the frame so that he looks 'into' the image.
Michael,
Good depth of field. I would have loved some more shutter speed. I would have used ISO 800. I agree with Axel that it would have been better without the branch in front.
Hey Michael. Nice light and eye contact. The OOF foreground is a little too visually dominant to my eye. And as Axel said, the bird should be placed in the left of the frame. I probably would have opened up a little and gone with a faster shutter speed. f/7.1 would have given you all the DOF you needed for a pose like this.
I agree with Doug re opening the aperture - this would have blurred out the OOF FG a little more and made it a little less obtrusive. A slightly higher position would have lowered the foliage in the image. Agree with comp suggestion to move the bird to the left. I would probably remove the twig that seems to be emerging form the left (bird's right) wing. Lovely sharpness and detail in the eye.
Thanks for the great comments. I really appreciate it. I thought about a crop with the subject to the left. My little pea brain wanted it to the right... but I completely agree with all of the comments. To be real honest, I was having an off day when I shot this :) It's kind of a "salvage job". You should see what I missed during my drive through the Texas prairie and rice fields. On second thought... nobody should have to see that :D
That's what I love about this place. Good honest critique. You can't get that anywhere else. Thanks again!
Mockingbird
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote