Mountain Bluebird

[Steve Canuel]

Not a natural perch but pretty common resting spot for these guys. Chose this comp for something different and the linear nature of the fence. Maybe too much space. 40D, 400DO + 2xTC, f10, 1/800s, ISO 400, tripod mount, crop all around.

[Randy Stout]

Steve:

I like the overall image, and with this perch, I think the pano crop works. I think if the bird was looking more to the right, into all that space, it might be even stronger.

I don't know mountain blue birds from personal experience, so perhaps I am off base, but it looks like maybe a couple of points more saturation would help him pop a bit more. Again, if that is what he looks like, stick with it!

Your light was well off to your left, but I think because of the head angle, it works well. The shadow of the birds left does round him out a bit.

Thanks for sharing.

PS: I thought briefly about really pushing the crop and coming in from the left, to just inside the 1st barb, but think that would only work with the head turned more to the right.

Cheers

Randy

[Dave Phillips]

lovely bird Steve.
Only strange thing I notice is the perfect horizontal of the wire.
Visually, it is likely at an angle and a slight heightening at right
may give a little balance, only about 1º....just a thought

[Fabs Forns]

I like the pano crop, and I'd have suggested a crop to the left, but the spike closes the frame nicely :) Very nicely presented :)

[Stu Bowie]

Steve, I like the pose, and the softer colours on him. This is sharp, with good detail. Comp wise, the pano works, but to try and rid of the fence, how about a vertical, and add a bit to the top. Just a thought.

[Arthur Morris]

Good stuff above. I like the PANO deal but would surely have put the bird farther to the left regardless of HA.

[Steve Canuel]

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions

Randy, I debated about where to cut that fence with the crop. Seems I was always going one more over. Regarding color, I often have to tone down the blues a bit to keep them from blowing out. Light angle, he was a south facing bird on an east-west running fence at late afternoon. He refused to cooperate and land on any west facing branches.

Dave,
Good eye on that fence. It actually dips down a bit as its running away from the mountains on his left. I did a little tilt to even it out but should've kept the tailing slightly away angle in mind.

Stuart,
I also debated a vertical crop but felt it was just a little too much of a crop.

Arthur,
I wanted to go in tighter on his right but didn't want to leave too much empty wire leading out of the frame. I felt the next barb over was too close.

[Ramon M. Casares]

I like it, nice pano crop, great BG, nice light despite its angle, and good level of detail, I only wish for a slightly better head angle although it doesn't look bad at all as presented. Congratulations Steve!