Would you keep it? or post it?

[Stan Cunningham]

I've learned the hard way a couple weeks ago about shooting close with my new lens (500 F4) and DOF, even at F8. Yet there is something about some of these photos I really like, whether it's color, the head cock or expression of the bird etc.
This is a western tanager that flew in very close to my blind, probably too close and should have taken the 1.4 off but that's probably why I post in eager to learn...
I've looked at many of your sites for your photos and have been very impressed and hope to start mine this fall.
Would you post some thing like this for a portfolio type display???
Thanks for the comments
Canon 7D 500 F4 with 1.4 (700) on tripod
F8 1/1000 at 500 ISO
Processing almost nothing, cleaned up the bill and that's it.
Thought about removing the shadow on the yucca stalk, but didn't, any comments there?

Thanks as always.
Stan

[Cody Covey]

i'd keep it but I'd clone out the limb on the left. If you have others of this shot with the tail that would be even better!

[John Chardine]

Hi Stan- What a great bird! I've never seen one and always wanted to! They don't come east too often.

The image is pretty sharp where it is absolutely necessary- the eye and head. The f8 aperture was obviously not enough to give you the DoF you needed at the short distance you were shooting. It's a shame the tail is clipped- I assume this was in-camera. For the wall as an art-piece, you could use the bottom part of the tail-tip to recreate the clipped part. The yucca stalk is pretty big in the frame and again that could be removed with some work, for your art-piece. Well done taking advantage of a situation!

[Rob Stratton]

Hi Stan. Nice catch! We have them up here also, but they are fairly elusive and when I do see them, it is usually high in the trees. I am having the same issues with DOF. Being new to birding I had the idea that I should be wide open (or close to it) all the time.
Maybe just on my monitor, but the beak looks metallic.
What type of blind are you using? I've been looking into several types styles and am still unsure which way to go.
Thanks
Rob

[wendell westfall]

Stan, I like it as is (if the tip of the tail were just complete). I am not a big fan of "clean" backgrounds in all cases.

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Stan, as the photographer you show us the story and I like the expression. I use this same setup all the time and often move the focus point to the left or right to better frame the subject. The center point is clean but can cause images to be out of balance.

You can use post processing to make additional adjustments as needed - if you want. Too bad about the tail, it can be rebuilt but I never take that direction - but thats me.

[Stan Cunningham]

You guys like this better?

[Kerry Perkins]

I do, I do! I would take the blur tool to the tail surgery area, but otherwise a much stronger image. The giant Yucca stalk wasn't doing anything for the image, as it was taking almost as much space as the bird and definitely distracting to the eye. Exposure is a bit hot and the red channel is clipped in almost all of the yellow areas. I also see a vertical line near the left edge of the frame and some artifact in the upper left corner which could be fixed with cloning.