Hermit Thrush

[Gary Irwin]

I've decided I need to get serious about fine tuning my craft, so its time to jump in and put some of my images out for critiquing. Composition is an art and I always struggle with it. My only concern is that I tend to prefer environmental shots (when possible) and I get the impression those are not really standard fare on this forum. Anyway, I need to learn so here goes...

Here's a Hermit Thrush from Point Pelee last week. I purposely kept the entire log in the photo and backed off to include the leaf on the right to frame the shot while keeping the bird about 1/3 into the frame.



Nikon D3, 500VR+TC17EII
1/100s f/8.0 at 850.0mm iso400 no flash

[Bill Jobes]

I like it a lot, Gary.

As one who also favors 'environment' treatments, I find this interpretation to be very appealing.

It seems to be technically excellent in every respect, and the twig on the right is a nice counter-poise to the bird on the left.

Not that it's necessary, but you might play with slicing the log in half horizontally to see what impact that yields.

I do, however, like the light green showing on the bottom of the log, and I'm not sure I'd want to sacrifice it by cropping.

Again, it's a very appealing photograph in this interpretation.

[John Ippolito]

I like the soft light, and for me the comp works well. The oversized perch is not a problem. The inclusion of the leaf gives some extra balance to the bird, though I might have given the leaf a bit more room on the right.
A fine image of one of my favorite birds. The first one of the season arrived here just yesterday, and they sing for me all night long.

[Gary Irwin]

Not that it's necessary, but you might play with slicing the log in half horizontally to see what impact that yields.

I do, however, like the light green showing on the bottom of the log, and I'm not sure I'd want to sacrifice it by cropping.

Thanks very much Bill. Nice to know I'm not completely out in left field! I tried cropping the bottom of the log but it just didn't look right to me. Of course if the log was any thicker I would have had no choice.

[Dan Brown]

I like the comp as is. The bird seems to need a bit of sharpening though. BTW, I think that this is a Swainson's Thrush, the tail isn't rufous at all and the eye ring says Swainson's to me.

[Gary Irwin]

I like the soft light, and for me the comp works well. The oversized perch is not a problem. The inclusion of the leaf gives some extra balance to the bird, though I might have given the leaf a bit more room on the right.
A fine image of one of my favorite birds. The first one of the season arrived here just yesterday, and they sing for me all night long.

Thanks John. I agree, the leaf needs just a tad more room to "breath". I should be able to recrop slightly without losing much.

You're in Alaska? Wow, just amazing how far these little guys fly...they've only been around here for a few weeks now.

[Gary Irwin]

I like the comp as is. The bird seems to need a bit of sharpening though. BTW, I think that this is a Swainson's Thrush, the tail isn't rufous at all and the eye ring says Swainson's to me.

Thanks Dan. It very well may be a Swainson's...I couldn't make out the rufous tail on this or the other photos...I figured Hermits are more prevalent so went with it! :)

[John Ippolito]

Dan might be right on this one. We get both hermits and Swainson's here, and I don't see the red in the tail indicating a hermit - but the Swainson's here have a more prominent buff eye ring that I don't see in your image. Lovely whichever it is.

[LouBuonomo]

I would crop some of the bottom so that the view is coming out of the corner. if you have it I would show the whole leaf. Really nice image. looks like a hermit to me but you were there.
Lou

[Gary Irwin]

I would crop some of the bottom so that the view is coming out of the corner. if you have it I would show the whole leaf. Really nice image. looks like a hermit to me but you were there.
Lou

Interesting crop idea...I'll try it. Unfortunately there's no more leaf.
Thanks Lou!

[Fabs Forns]

I'm in this Forum and I love environmentals :)
Nice composition, but as noted, a little more room to the right of the new growth would make it more balanced.
The rest looks fine to me, composiiton wise.
swell exposed and very good head angle on the bird.
Looking forward to more.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Ya gotta shoot what you like and compose as you wish. I like both clean images and ones with environment as well. Both have a place , IMHO. As for this image , I love the idea that you had and I think with a little re-cropping , as stated, it will be killer.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Loved the setting here.. nice soft feel too...

[Gary Irwin]

Thanks All for the great comments and suggestions. I think I'm going to learn a lot on BPN and am looking forward to spending more time here. This looks like a great community!

FWIW I recropped the image ever so slightly and sharpened the bird a tad. The bird wasn't quite as sharp as it could have been -- the SS was only 1/100s and I was hand holding the lens so I was lucky to get what I got.




Cheers!