Rock Wren

[Roy Priest]

Taken this evening in the back yard of the house I'm renting in Arizona.
Nikon D700, 300F4, 1/640, ISO 800, lying on my stomach.

[Paul Guris]

Love the shot. It's a nice pose, the bird is crisp and clean, the background is right (neutral, matching what's expected for the species), and the perch is also correct for the species. The only nit I have is that the bird looks too sharpened to me, especially on the head. I think if you backed off the sharpening just a bit it would improve the image.

[Kerry Perkins]

Roy, I like the pose and composition. Color rendition is good also. As for sharpening, I think the main issue is lack of detail in the capture. Were you breathing? What aperture did you use? I'm guessing f/5.6.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Roy,

Greetings. Good pose & light... slight motion blur? There is a slight color oddity (CA?) on the beak and right side of the eye (red on lower right side and blue on upper left) or could be just reflections off sky and sunset/sunrise? The blue on the top of the beak is most noticeable (the little there is)...

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Jeff Cashdollar]

I am on work monitor so cannot comment on sharpening detail. I can say, the composition is great. Moreover, nice pose, perch and love the overall feel. Nice job controlling the frame and including/excluding elements - love the muted background. What was the distance to the subject. Thanks for sharing and please keep them coming.

[Roy Priest]

Love the shot. It's a nice pose, the bird is crisp and clean, the background is right (neutral, matching what's expected for the species), and the perch is also correct for the species. The only nit I have is that the bird looks too sharpened to me, especially on the head. I think if you backed off the sharpening just a bit it would improve the image.

Paul, thanks for the feedback. I am using my laptop to process these images but you are correct about sharpening. I tend to over-sharpen when converting to jpeg because it usually takes away just the right amount to look good. Unfortunately is doesn't do it in all cases.

Roy, I like the pose and composition. Color rendition is good also. As for sharpening, I think the main issue is lack of detail in the capture. Were you breathing? What aperture did you use? I'm guessing f/5.6.

Kerry, yes breathing is this bothersome habit I have. But I know what you mean. I was hand holding so that probably accounted for some lack of detail.

Roy,

Greetings. Good pose & light... slight motion blur? There is a slight color oddity (CA?) on the beak and right side of the eye (red on lower right side and blue on upper left) or could be just reflections off sky and sunset/sunrise? The blue on the top of the beak is most noticeable (the little there is)...

Cheers,

-Michael-

Michael, it was just before sunset so maybe that is the cause of the colour aberrations.

I am on work monitor so cannot comment on sharpening detail. I can say, the composition is great. Moreover, nice pose, perch and love the overall feel. Nice job controlling the frame and including/excluding elements - love the muted background. What was the distance to the subject. Thanks for sharing and please keep them coming.

Jeff, he was about 12'-14' away.