Common Bird Project II

[Steve Canuel]

I liked the BG color and transition on this one. BG is iced over pond and sunlit opposite shoreline. 40D, 400DO + 2xTC, f10, 1/125s, ISO 800, +1 1/3 EC, tripod, MLU, cable release, removed a couple of stems merging with the tail, cropped some all around.

[Robert O'Toole]

The BG is amazing, what a contrast, wow! Also the open beak and HA is just about right for me. Sharpness looks great.
I really like how the orange in the BG matches the wing patches.

I would get rid of the two free standing sticks if it was mine. If there were more it would be better but just the two looks strange. Also eliminating them would get rid of the masking or NR I see on the edges of the sticks.

Robert

[Stephen Stephen]

Steve I like the simplicity of this image and I agree with Robert about the beautiful BG. I'm undecided about the two extra stems. Were you thinking that they added balance to the bottom of the frame?

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Love the gorgeous BG in this image and Ditto Robert's comments. Fine work Steve and thanks for sharing.

[Andrew Merwin]

I like the way the top 1/3 of the BG & the reeds compliments the bird's wing bar. Lovely image.

Andrew

[Fabs Forns]

Steve, this on really, really nice. Love the bi-color BG and the singing pose with tongue out. I wouldn't touch the two sticks, IMO they balance the composition.

[Aidan Briggs]

IMO this really couldn't be improved on. I would leave the sticks in. The amazing BG, singing pose, and nice light all add to this.

Well Done!!

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Count me in the club who want the sticks.

This is simply gorgeous. Everything I wanted to say has been said above. Good thing you did not get beak blur at that SS.

[Kiran Poonacha]

beautiful, loved the pose and details and the BG here...

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Steve, lovely singing pose, and well placed in the frame. Wonderful two tone BG, and the two sticks dont distract at all. Well captured.

[Myer Bornstein]

I agree with those that like the 2 sticks otherwise everything has been said already

[Harold Davis]

i like the two sticks, also! man, that is a beautiful image. the dual tone bg is just perfect. fantastic job, steve!!!!

[Steve Canuel]

Steve I like the simplicity of this image and I agree with Robert about the beautiful BG. I'm undecided about the two extra stems. Were you thinking that they added balance to the bottom of the frame?

Hi Stephen,
I was trying to avoid the bird on a single stem look. If the other two had not merged with the tail, I would've left them all in.

[Steve Canuel]

Thanks to everyone else for the look, comments, and suggestions.

[Patricio Murphy]

Lovely shot, I particularly like the way the bird stands out against the two coloured background. I wouldn't bother with the extra sticks if the shot were mine.