Chaffinch

[Jonathan Ashton]

Canon 7D Canon 500mm f4 L IS tripod head, ISO 640 -0.33 1/1250 sec f6.3
This was taken from one of my garden hides. I have been trying for some time to get these finches to perch but they refuse to perch adjacent to a feeding station. I got out the bird table, scattered a few seeds and in no time I managed to get a few shots - just as well because the English weather arrived and the light went way down.
I have been re-reading Roger Clarke's posts concerning light direction and I have tried to optimise conditions. I found that (no surprise here!) when the light is at 15-30 degrees to the subject fairly minimal sharpening is required.
I eagerly await all comments regarding this image.

[PRABIR BHATTACHARYYA]

Jonathan, a beautiful catch and more so in view of the light conditions.
However, the tail appears to be a bit OOF, I am not too sure.

[Dumay de Boulle]

Lovely IQ, great BG (Love the different colors) and very nice perch. I would say f8 was needed to get more tail and back leg in focus and also feel the BG needs another round of NR otherwise a very nicely presented image!

[Wynand van Wyk]

A superb portrait captured here! I love the beautiful background and detail on the bird. Lovely natural perch too.

Well done from me!

[Mital Patel]

Jonathan you have grabbed best over given opportunity.
I would try to boost shads as the face and breast part mixes with the bg being dark.

just an idea

[Sachin Saraf]

Wonderful shot...you nailed it...lovely BG and nice and sharp bird with precise DOF

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks for the comments everyone, very encouraging. The slightly smaller aperture may have given just enough - about 11-13mm. Regarding the illumination on the face and chest, I applied a mask to the eye and brightened it a little. I then made a mask of part of the face and down the right side of the chest and made a levels layer to equalise the light a little. The bright light under the eye socket is not artefact from the mask, it is natural light.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jon, I do like the inqisitive pose, and that perch rocks with the bright green lichen. Quite a colourful guy, with excellent sharpness where it counts. I feel you could move him up in the frame a touch - or take a bit off the top. Cheers.

[Dan Busby]

Lovely photo Jonathan. Love the colours, BG, bird pose. Nice sharpness and detail. Yes, f8 might have brought the tail into focus.

[dankearl]

Stunning light and the bird is beautiful.
The pose is really good, it look wistful and mournful.
Well done.

[Tom Redd]

Jonathon, love this shot, beautiful colors on both the bird and the BG. The DOF doesn't bother me really, you have it sharp where it is needed most. Very well done.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot. Love the pose, excellent detail, lovely background and perch.