First image posted here. Some of my better images seem to happen when I'm in parks or wildlife refuges specifically looking for a recently reported rarity. I don't find the rarity, but meanwhile, another bird poses nicely, as this mockingbird did on an overcast day between rainstorms at Point Pinole shoreline.
Canon 40D and 500L + 1.4x, with monopod
ISO1000, 1/640 at f/4.5, spot metering, manual exposure
post-processed in Lightroom 3
The background could do with a bit of noise reduction.
I would also go for a horizontal crop rather than square. I think this would also help the image by reducing the oof foreground foliage and berries to the lower right. I tried it with the eye kept on the upper thirds line, so a little trimmed from the top and about four times as much from the bottom, and it looked quite pleasing.
Welcome to the ETL forum, Allen! Ben's suggestions sound good to me! This is a lovely portrait - good HA & pose and nice lighting, too. I also think NR on the BG would be a good idea - or at least some gaussian blur to diffuse the green/black separation.
I really like this portrait Allen. It has a very classic look to it. I would be proud of an image like this. I do see some noise in the BG, which you can easily remove by masking out the bird and foliage. The BG is great though- very pleasing colour and it really sets the bird off nicely. You have great eye contact and the bird is sharp where it counts. As for composition, in my opinion you cold keep what you have but just add some room on the right. I really like the foliage, berries and colour.
Northern Mockingbird
