white-crowned sparrow

[Allen Hirsch]

I seldom walk the west side of Cesar Chavez Park, as it's usually too windy to be fruitful birding.

This particular morning last week was very calm, so I did go on the west side, and was rewarded by a flock of sparrows sunning themselves on the tops of bushes next to the path.

ISO 500, f5.6, 1/640; 50D + 500L f4.5 + 1.4x

[Sid Garige]

Alan,

Your exposure looks good very nice techs.

Regarding composition, I am not a big fan of square crops and considering subjects orientation, I would go for a vertical crop.

NIce pose and eye contact.

[Allen Hirsch]

Thanks for the comments, Sid.

I wasn't consciously going for a square crop when I processed this, but now that you mention it, I'll go back and play with a more vertical version.

[Allen Hirsch]

Here's a vertical crop.

[Sid Garige]

Nice job Alan. Very nice vertical comp.

[Dave Leroy]

Nicely done Alan.

I like the composition and pose of the bird. Seeing the tip of the tail would ahve added just a bit more to a very nice photo.

I also had not noticed the square crop, and prefer the vertical.

Dave

[Allen Hirsch]

I think I focused too much on a ROT composition initially, which is how I got a square crop without realizing it.

[Julie Kenward]

I think you could also go with a horizontal crop if you brought in the top of the frame but I like what you've done here with the vertical. Exposure looks really good...nice HA and eye contact! I think the sharpening is pretty close but wonder if you couldn't push it just a bit more around the eye/beak/face area.