Yellow-headed Blackbird

[Steve Maxson]

This male Yellow-headed Blackbird was photographed on its breeding territory in a cattail marsh. I had only one very narrow opening to photograph this bird through all the cattail stems between us - so not quite the perfect light angle, but there was no other choice. I like the OOF cattail stem habitat in this image - though other opinions are welcome. :) 40D, 500 f/4 + 1.4X, 1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 400. Comments are welcome and appreciated.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the angle, sharpness, pose and perch. I would probably clone out the cattail/grass on the right and then put the bird a bit further to the right in the frame.

[Rod Wiley]

Steve I softened up the right hand corner a little and did some color corrections and removed some of the reds. If you reduce the reds a little you can separate the bird from his background and it helps to give the photo more depth. hope you don't mind. You've go a nice photo here. Rod

[Mike Milicia]

Nice pose and love the inclusion of the habitat here.

Yellows look more natural for this species in the original post.
May get some improvement from selectively lightening the bird a bit while protecting
the brighter areas at the top of the breast.

[Steve Maxson]

Steve I softened up the right hand corner a little and did some color corrections and removed some of the reds. If you reduce the reds a little you can separate the bird from his background and it helps to give the photo more depth. hope you don't mind. You've go a nice photo here. Rod

Hi Rod. Thanks for the comments and I like what you did with the colors. I went back and checked my original web-sized file and it is quite apparent that a lot of the reddish tones were somehow a result of the downloading process.:confused: You did a good job of getting the colors back closer to where they should be.

[Ramon M. Casares]

To be honest I like the OP better, more of a warm feel.
Nice perch, pose, BG/ enviroment, comp and detail. I would suggest re-working the brigter yellows as they seems oversaturated. Congratulations!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Wonderful base image and subjective to taste both versions are OK, with the repost more separated from the BG, but I also (like Ramon) like the OP for the warmth portrayed.

[Harshad Barve]

Nice shot, My vote for OP

Harshad

[Stu Bowie]

Although I cant check the colours at the moment, I feel the OP looks natural and well exposed. This is sharp, and love the pose. Rod's repost with the removal of the grass works well.

[Steve Canuel]

Hi Steve,
I like the vertical elements of this one. I also like the warmth of the original but the clarity and pop of the repost. I personally also like the green cattail shoot and the older OOF clump of the original.