Black-Headed Grosbeak

[Mark Schmitt]

Migratory bird that has made it's appearance this April. This is a full adult male.

Self critique: Original Ev's were on the underexposed side. Some PP brought some of it back; but the head still had to be masked and adjusted in it's own layer and then blended. Over-all image is acceptable: head angle is directing the point of interest off frame to the bottom so image was cropped in this proportion. Colors are wel within range and high values are not blown and there is still some delineation in the darks. However, I could have used a bit more power in the fill flash.

EXIF
Camera: Canon 30D
Lense: Canon EF 500 IS L f 4.0
Mode: all manual
Metering: pattern
ISO: 500
White bal. 5600 K
Exposrue: 1/1600 @ f 5.6

Feel free

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The soft light, details and BG look great. I wish for more eye contact and would darken the pupil. I have never seen this species and am wondering if a bit more saturation would be good.

[Juan Aragonés]

I like the BG, soft light, and sharpness but head turn is not the best IMO :-(
Very cool species BTW

[Fabs Forns]

Very nice bird and colors. The perch creates a nice diagonal. The HA has been covered already. Sharpness is good too.

[Stu Bowie]

I like the comp with him looking down the line of the diagonal perch. I agree with Axel to darken the eye, and what a killer BG.