Tufted tit-mouse

[David MacAlpine]

A backyard resident.

Canon 500d, 400mm 5.6, iso400, f=5/6, 1/125s, tripod.

Cloned a branch out from behind this little fellow's head.

This was cropped pretty hard. How do you specify the crop -- as a percentage of an edge (46%) or as a percentage of total pixels (9.5%)? Just curious. I think I cropped too close to the tail on the right, but I have some room to re-do.

Thanks!

[Julie Brown]

David, I like your composition but I do think you cropped a bit too tightly on the right. Nice head angle. It looks like there is a cyan cast which is showing up on the perch and the bird. Let's see what the experts think.

[David MacAlpine]

Thanks! I think I see the cyan you pointed out. Argh.. I have two monitors on my computer and each looks different. Maybe it's time to invest in a monitor calibration tool. Although, I've heard that can be a bit hocus pocus.

[Lance Peters]

Hi David - Monitor calibration software is a must - IMHO, only way you will get reliable colour.
Does seem to have a cyan cast as mentioned - here is a link to the educational resources forum - a easy way to minimise it - http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ead.php?t=7752
Looks a tad soft on my screen - your shutter speed is a little slow for the focal length you are shooting at - general rule of thumb is 1 over the focal length as a minimum to ensure a sharp image - so here 1/400th.

Is a tad tight on the RHS. Good HA and eye contact.
Looking forward to seeing more :)

[David MacAlpine]

Thanks for the advice. Will definitely look into calibrating the monitors and will remember to increase my shutter speed. Although with my 500d things get very noisy above iso400...this is going to be an expensive hobby :)