Same individual as last post, but this time the sun made an appearance midway through the action. In the excitement of the moment I left the ISO where it was for the bright overcast conditions just before. I would normally place the subject a bit more right but the grass blades (which I wanted to include) nicely fill that area and balance the comp to my eyes. Audio and blind used for this image. In retrospect I could have used fill to lessen the shadow near the throat. Perch toned down a bit using the burn tool at 8% opacity and one grass blade in front of the bill has been eliminated via patch tool.
Canon 40D + 100-400L @400mm, 1/2000s., f/7.1, ISO 640, -0.3 EC, natural light, handheld, slight crop for comp.
I think you hit most of the points in your self assessment. Fill might have helped with the shadow on the bird, but it certainly would have made the perch even brighter as well. I might consider brightening the iris just a smidge, but haven't seen this species, so you'll have to be the judge of what looks proper.
Hi Daniel, a nice image of a bird that is unfamiliar to me. I like the overall look and do not mind at all the shadow on the throat as it is not harsh and well defined, it just shows me where the light was coming from. Personally the 2 blades of grass that you wanted to include do however catch my eye a little too much.
I like the two grass blades at the right but they make the bird too much centered on the composition adding a bit of more room to the left would do the trick but I suspect that this is a full frame image and that you don´t have more room to add (perhaphs from another frame in the same series).
The eye is superb and you did a good job considering the intensity of light.
I also feel including the blades of grass centers the bird I think it would look best cropping from right side, just personal taste. Excellent shadow detail and pose I like it a lot !!!
Hi Daniel, you have captured a very alert pose, and Im guessing these guys are very busy, and dont keep still. I like the softer colours on him, and well exposed throughout. Cool perch too.