Lots of habitat in this one. 50D, 500mm +1.4TC, 1/400, f/5.6, ISO 400, EC+1.
I cropped some all around to remove some of oof fg, but more from left. I also cleaned up a few brighter spots and some leaf merges.
Dave, Beautiful sharp details. Very nice pose and beautiful habitat. I might be tempted to evict the dark lines of vegetation on the left. I might take a tiny bit off the top. Great image quality and I wish it were mine:)
The look is a mater of taste and there is no right or wrong here, just personal choice. I find the re post bare, no feel to the image, much prefer the original post, was tempted to suggest cropping some form the top but would take away the little but and having just the sticks sticking up just don't do it !!!
Tech wise would have given third less light and on the PS side would get a little more detail in the whites then back down the sharpening .. at least on the body, feathers look sort of frozen .. just select the head area !!! Mighty fine image, like it a lot !!!
Would love to hear comments regarding the crop !!!
forgot to post the re post :D:) looking for it !!!
Thanks everyone for the looks and comments, and thanks John for the repost.:)
Here's the original, which I kind of like also. It would need a bit of clean up with some of the vertical oof bits.
The pieces on the left kind of closed off that side of the photo and framed the bird for me.
I guess for me it was an important part of the habitat and that is why i left it. Too bad it was in fg and not in focus.
Thanks Alfred for comments on pp'n. I probably do over do the sharpening.
I have to agree with Alfred about the crop. I think too often we get wrapped up in the subject and lose some of the interesting bits in the frame. This is after all where he/she lives, it's not a portrait studio. Having said that it really is a matter of taste, what the photographer is trying to capture. Remember, it's your art. I also agree a little less sharpening and maybe a touch less light. I actually like the original uncropped version, but hey, that's just me. Nice image!
Agree with Denise here.
#6 looks really good, I feel more connected to the image. I would try to take some time to clone out the big stick that is OOF.
Hi Dave - agree with the above comments - just a little too much sharpening for my tastes and also evident by the halo around the underside of the beak.
Gorgeous little birds and like the one with more of the habitat.
Good show :)
Hi Dave, I see qualities in #6 and #3. If I saw John's repost without seeing the others I would like the closeup.
I also like #6 because it is an environmental image that works. There are a few distractions but easily fixed if it were mine. I like it because the subject is so dominant in the image even with the grass and foliage.
Agree about the oversharpening and also about taking a bit off the top....
Thanks everyone for the comments.
It is good to know that the environmental/habitat shot works. It is easy to try and get those clean bg's and if they are not there, then something else might work.
Consensus is over sharpened and that is good to know also.
Alfred's comment, "The look is a mater of taste and there is no right or wrong here, just personal choice." is absolutely correct. That is why I chose my words, "This is the crop I would apply." To say that you should apply my crop would be absolutely wrong!
Isn't it great that not everyone has the same opinions!
Fully agree John Hope everyone understands this point Most things we comment are just that, there are others I would call guideline which will make an image better or worse .. example would be centering a small subject in frame, most often is not going to look good.
This has been one interesting thread and hope we have many more like it, just good for all !! Great to see the different thoughts ideas, very refreshing !!!!
Killdeer
