New Years Day

[Myer Bornstein]

Went on a group bird watching trip New Years Day to Newburyport and Vicinity. This horned lark was in a group feeding in the snow. They would use their head to clear away the snow to feed. This picture was taken from the car window with my 150-500 mmSigma lens. I brightened the picture in PS
150-500mm @ 500mm
750mm (in 35mm film)
1/500 sec, f/11
Mode: Program
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -1/3
ISO: 400
AF mode: AF-C

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the setting and head turn and would put the bird further to the right in the frame. With this much snow around, dialing in positive EC works well. I photographed larks yesterday and was between +1 to 1.33.

[Phil Ertel]

Hi Myer, I like the pose of the bird as I find the look back pleasing. I agree with Axel moving the bird to the right as I find the presentation a little to centered for my taste. If this were mine I would try cropping some off our right and a bit off the bottom to put the bird in the lower right hand rule of thirds. Thanks for sharing.

[Myer Bornstein]

Phil, Axel
I took your advice and cropped the picture. How do you like the changes?

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The crop looks better. The snow has a slight red cast and I would lighten the bird some more.

[Myer Bornstein]

Here is the third iteration of the picture I agree It looks better with the snow lightened

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The whiter snow looks better but the whites are a bit overexposed now. If you take the midtones to 0.85 or so, it should fix this.