Great-tailed Grackle

[Katie Rupp]

Lots of these Grackle's here and I liked the setting for this female. I'm not sure if the two oof reeds behind her beak are too distracting?..and I wish the oof rock in the foreground was not there, but as I moved to try and get a better angle, she moved to a totally less photogenic spot. Such is the life of a bird photographer! C&C encouraged and greatly appreciated.

1DmkIII; 5.6, 1/2500; ISO 640; M; 500f4; hh

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Sharp and great pose Katie. Don't mind the reeds, and if you cropped out the rock it would probably look pretty tight. You are right, such is the life of the photographer. Lots of skill and seems we need lots of luck too. Anyhow very nice.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Katie - Id clone out the foreground rock or Quick mask should be a pretty easy one.
Id consider cropping some off the top - like the pose and the soft BG colours.
Good show :)

[Oscar Zangroniz]

I second Lance on cloning out the foreground rock. Like the unusual post. Very sharp.

[wendell westfall]

Great pose and great background . . . but another vote to clone out that rock.

[OvidiuCavasdan]

I like the pose and sharpness. Agree about working on the foreground rock. I wish the feet were not behind rocks. Foreground or background are not always as we wish, but with patience a better oportunity will arrive.
Looking for your next one!;)

[Katie Rupp]

Thank you everyone; here is the repost with the offending rock removed. How did I do?

[Doug Brown]

Love the alert pose, low angle, and sharpness. Good eye contact. Prefer the repost; good PS work!

[Alfred Forns]

Good work on the re post !!! Agree with Doug !! ... particularly like the look and feather detail !!!

[Mark Young]

Like the repost. Congrats on getting such nice detail in the darker feathers. I find this almost impossible to achieve unless the lighting is absolutely perfect.