Summer Tanager

[Jim Crosswell]

This is another image from Costa Rica. All C&Cs are welcome and appreciated.

Canon 40D
500L F4
1.4 Extender
ISO 400
F/9
1/200s
Tripod

[Julie Brown]

Hi Jim,

To my eye, this is very pleasing. I love the color of the bird. The body position is good and the detail of the perch is interesting. I like the BG too. The HA police might have something to say, but I would be very happy if this were mine.

[Malcolm Benn]

Lovely image .. I really like the muted colours in the background. Might be that my eyes are a bit tired today but the bill and eye look just a tad soft to me.

[Randy Stout]

Jim:

Good points above. Yes, a smidge soft on the head for me as well. Pleasant BG.

The perch is more interesting because of the lichen/mosses, but still a bit overpowering as posted.

I might consider converting a version to vertical and cropping to eliminate the fork, with an appropriate balancing crop from the right.

Have enjoyed your Costa Rica series.

Cheers

Randy

[Jim Crosswell]

Thanks for the suggestions and comments. Randy I will try a vertical crop and see how it looks.

[Jim Crosswell]

Jim:

Good points above. Yes, a smidge soft on the head for me as well. Pleasant BG.

The perch is more interesting because of the lichen/mosses, but still a bit overpowering as posted.

I might consider converting a version to vertical and cropping to eliminate the fork, with an appropriate balancing crop from the right.

Have enjoyed your Costa Rica series.

Cheers

Randy

Here is a vertical crop.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jim, I dont mind your crop of the OP, but after your vertical, it does seem to work better. Good reds, and I like the feather detail. I feel your ss has let you down with the overall sharpness. Lovely BG.

[Randy Stout]

Jim:

I think the repost is an improvement. If the perch had just been a single branch, I would have been happy with a looser crop, but I think this is a good compromise.

Cheers

Randy

[Daniel Cadieux]

I like it when a branch forks out of the frame, so I am biased in my liking the OP (I do like the repost too)...but I do agree the branch is just a tad thick for the subject's size (artistically speaking, as the birds themselves couldn't care less). Nice moss covering though, and I like the BG. HA would have been great a few degrees more towards us. All-in-all an enjoyable image...

[Herb Houghton]

Nice capture of the ST Jim. I agree that the perch looks sharper than the bird's head. Nice suggestions on recropping. I like the colors and the pose though the HA could be a tad more optimum for the viewer. I like the repost much better.

[Dumay de Boulle]

Great BG and nice colors...I really like the perch and i prefer the vertical crop....Nice one Jim