This guy sat still for the longest time while I tried to figure out why AF wasn't working (switch on the lens was off). I think it's a juvenile bird. An adult wouldn't sit still that long. i have another pose that I think that I like better. I may post it tomorrow. I also think that taking some time to remove the background branch would help the image.
Agree with you re: the branch behind the back.
Light from the right has case some dark shadows on the back.
Wish the bill was not merging with the back.
Removing some of the branches, as you mentioned, would direct the eyes to your subject, but love the eye detail, which is hard to get with this bird's black mask.
Such an interesting bird to observe. Last winter I had one at my back yard feeders, often, over a 2-3 week period. It was definitely a new yard bird for me. He did not seem interested in the little songbirds, thank goodness, but was after what I believe were grub worms. I got a series of pictures of him hunting, then impailing the worms. He always took the worms to one particular thorny spike on the branch of this Bradford Pear Tree, where he would enjoy his meal, then continue his hunt, until he was full. It will be intersteing, if he returns this winter.
Either I am very tired, my glasses are very dirty, or the bird's tail is way sharper than the face...
Perhaps lightening the face and then sharpening it would help matters.....
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Loggerhead Shrike
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