I like the singing pose, eye contact and this is a species I would love to see sometime. I would remove the 'steel eye' and the image could go a tad darker for my taste, maybe by adjusting the midtones.
The bird looks nice and sharp, good exposure and catch light. Did he move the bill? I see flash ghosting on the lower mandible. You could have increased your ISO to yield a faster shutter speed and avoid that. Flash helped with sharpness.
The BG is somehow distracting, did he perch in any more favorable perch?
Good catch Paul. Not a bird often seen in the open. I like the colours. I also like the idea of increasing ISO for more dof or more ss, although this photo is nice and sharp. Dave
That is sure a beautiful bird Paul, and a very nice capture/pose in the open and natural environment.
I'm not a flash shooter and I just don't know what you might have done to make this shot better really... The exposure looks very good to me and except for the catchlight the flash seems pretty transparent. The bird was singing and I suspect his whole body was vibrating enuf to just not be quite sharply captured with the shutter open for 1/60th.
thanks for the critiques everyone, very constructive.
Fabs, you are right about the flash ghosting. I didn't post this originally as it was over-flashed.
I grew to like it however since it held a desirable pose, head angle and somewhat appealing perch/surroundings.
I've re-processed the shot, could be an improvement? :)
edit: i forgot i had taken out a twig distraction originally, doh.
I like the repost better. The tighter crop helped get rid of the busy BG. I would consider taking out the big branch in front of the bird with this new crop.
Varied Thrush
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