Common grackle

[Richard Stern]

One of the 1st images I have taken with my new Nikon D7000, using the 300 f/4 AF-S + 1.4TC. Hand-held. Self-crit - I like the way the light has brought out the colors on the bird, instead of the usual plain black, but I wonder if the background is too fussy. I cropped it to remove some annoying stuff on the right.

1/800, f/8, ISO360 (Manual exposure, auto-ISO).

Thanks for looking,

Richard

[Julie Kenward]

Richard, you're right on with your self-critique. I also like how the colors came out and the irridescense is beautiful. I think with the use of the TC and the 300mm you brought that BG in a little too close. (Remember that the more focal length you use the more compact the BG will be to the FG.)

You might try to clone out the three small dark spots on the left side and then clone over the patch in the URC to smooth things out a bit. You could also try some gaussian blur on the BG or a soft black vignette around the frame to see if that helps diminish the BG and make the bird's presence even stronger.

Nice work on the bird, though...good focal point and detail throughout and good strong HA!

[John Chardine]

Hi Richard- The look of the BG strongly suggests to me that you had unstable air with heat shimmer that day. I've seen this several times before and that is the look you get. It's not so noticeable in the bird or foreground because you are shooting through less air.

I agree the colours are really good of the bird. Nice pose and head angle too. Perch is a little messy.

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Richard, good subject and pose and really nice colors you captured. Your challenge is to find this bird in less busy surroundings, as the bird itself is nicely done but the environment is very busy and takes away from the nice bird image. I'm one of those who actually like grackles and other black birds. I like to see these images, so keep them coming!