Setup in my yard. About 60% of the original. Nikon D700, 300mm f2.8, 1.4tc, tripod. SB 900 flash in hotshoe at -1 1/3 comp. 1/200, f7.1, ISO 640. Manual
What an unusual but very nice picture. I really like the wooden log perch and the tack sharpness of the bird. The BG is yummy. I am on the fence about the flowers. It seems almost too perfect? ...maybe I am being too picky. Excellent exposure.Perfect comp.
Gail
I agree with Gail about the flowers looking almost too perfect. I would stick with one color flower instead of two and maybe have them looking more natural and sticking up along the sides of the perch as well.
The bird is perfectly exposed. Bkgd is nice too, although I would work on the darker part in the URC. The purple flower and darker leafs seem a bit unnatural, probably because of the flash and the shadow it creates on the perch. Alan's suggestion on the grasses might be the solution.
SH with a good EXP and a nice head angle for the pose. Perhaps a bit too much flash. Misplaced feathers on the top of the head distract. The flowers look more like a floral arrangement than like flowers growing naturally around the stump....
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