In Habitat - Song Sparrow

[Roy Priest]

Nikon D300
Nikon F4 with 1.4 TC
ISO 1600
F 5.6
1/2000s
Hand Held

[Dave Mills]

Hi Roy, beautiful perch along with a muted backround. I feel you've included way too much information in the image which greatly overshadows the bird. I'm going to suggest a radical crop which in this case might negatively effect the IQ.
I would frame the bird between the flower he's sitting on and the one directly behind. It would turn the image into a vertical. Another idea is to crop from the left up to the closest flower and show 3. My preference is the first suggestion.
The bird also appears to have a slight magenta cast.

[Alfred Forns]

... Dave is exactly what I was thinking ... here is the crop !! (didn't do anything else except a tiny contrast boost !!

Like environmental shots, would rather have the bird worked closer to one of the corners Roy !!!

[Bill Dix]

Hi Roy. I'm partial to sparrows, and this one looks nice and sharp. And so is his lovely perch. I'll have to agree with Dave that the image is overwhelmed by the oof flowers. Following up on his suggestion of a vertical crop, I would personally be very tempted to remove the oof flowers altogether. This, of course, is a bit radical, and some would not be so inclined.

ps Al's post beat me by a few seconds. That works also.

[Roy Priest]

Hi Roy, beautiful perch along with a muted backround. I feel you've included way too much information in the image which greatly overshadows the bird. I'm going to suggest a radical crop which in this case might negatively effect the IQ.
I would frame the bird between the flower he's sitting on and the one directly behind. It would turn the image into a vertical. Another idea is to crop from the left up to the closest flower and show 3. My preference is the first suggestion.
The bird also appears to have a slight magenta cast.

Dave, Thanks for the suggestions. I did have a similar crop as you suggested but decided to go for more of the habitat. I'll check out the magenta cast.

[Roy Priest]

... Dave is exactly what I was thinking ... here is the crop !! (didn't do anything else except a tiny contrast boost !!

Like environmental shots, would rather have the bird worked closer to one of the corners Roy !!!

Alf, thanks for the great repost. I have to agree with Dave and you on the crop.

[Roy Priest]

Hey Bill, I too like sparrows and the song sparrow is one of my favourites . Too much cloning for me Bill.:D I'm on a new computer and was wondering if the picture wasn't bright enough?