Cedar waxwing

[Ben Egbert]

This was taken as part of an Inland Northwest Land Trust workshop. I entered it in the judging where it received first place and best of show, although admittedly not against advanced bird photographers.

I suspect it will not do that well here because of the shadow on the face from the foliage. I suppose I could clone out the branches in front of the bird, but decided to show it pretty much as it was. I am showing this as part of my effort to improve my quality judgment by way of the critiques I receive, so please don’t hold back.
Taken, June 29, 2009

50D, 500f4+1.4X at f5.6, Iso400, 1/3200 sec from a Wimberly Sidekick on a tripod. I was set for flight images, hence the higher ISO.

[Michael Zajac]

Nice looking image. I might remove the left side of the perch and tone down the sky a bit. You could lighten the blacks around the eye a bit. The steep shooting angle is hurting the image IMO. You did well w/ the lighting and the sharpness.Congrats on the win-well deserved.

[Ben Egbert]

Micheal, thanks for your comments. Easy steps, accept I think the black mask is about right for this species.

[Art Kornienko]

Nice capture Ben, I guess there are a few things worth mentioning. The bird seems a bit centered in the shot, some branches are covering the wing, seems a bit busy with the branches on the left. Sharpness is very nice.

[Ben Egbert]

Nice capture Ben, I guess there are a few things worth mentioning. The bird seems a bit centered in the shot, some branches are covering the wing, seems a bit busy with the branches on the left. Sharpness is very nice.

Thanks for your comments. I could crop some off the right and top, and then delete the left branch. Would that work? I am looking for a few more comments before I redo this. The problem will be some unnatural clipping of the main branch.

[Glenda Simmons]

Congratulations on your win, and showing off this pretty bird. I get so excited when they make an appearance in my yard, which is not too often. The high angle is not the best, but dang...birds do perch high in trees, and we humans...well, we're down below. The thing that catches my eye in a slight distraction, is the difference in the sharpness between the upper right and upper left leaves. But overall, I think it is a very nice.

[denise ippolito]

Ben, Congratulations!This is a lovely image. I might evict the left side of perch only because it takes the focus from the bird. You have nice details. I agree it's a steep angle. Nice pose and HA.

[Kiran Poonacha]

lovely image, I liked the light, nice HA and the details on the lovely looking bird....

[James Salywoda]

A beautiful bird posed nicely for you Ben the separation from the habitat was perfect.

[Ben Egbert]

Thanks all for comments.

Here is a redo based on comments. I cropped it, cloned out some left side and lower right branches, lightened the shadow and sharpened the face.

You realize I could not have submitted the cloned version for the contest. But I can here. In fact, I think there were 5 other entries of this particular bird.