Kingbird with bug- overexposed?

[Bob Miller]

This little guy kept coming back to the same perch over and over allowing me lots of shots. I exposed for the bird and the bg water blew out. Is this acceptable? What could I have done differently?
Eager to Learn so all comments welcome!

Nikon D3s
1/500 sec at f8
ISO 560
500 mm with 1.7 TC

[John Chardine]

Hi Bob- I think it's fine in this case- you have a nice even, non-distracting BG. And you absolutely did the right thing to expose for the subject. If you use a low ISO you can squeeze more dynamic range out of the cameraIf you shoot RAW it gives you a huge amount of latitude to recover the highlights.

I like this image. Kingbirds have a red flash on the top of the head and you can see the indentation on the top of the head where the feathers are hidden. I would give a little less room at the right and maybe easy off on the sharpening.

[P-A. Fortin]

Exposure is good to me. Subject has no blown highlights and lots of detail.

I would go with the same suggestions at John's: cut some free space to the right and go a little bit softer on the sharpening trigger :)

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Bob, a handsome bird and I think the image is fine. I wouldn't have done anything different other than in the editing as mentioned above. Bird is definitely too centered and I would suggest cropping from the right until the perch almost reaches the corner of the frame. I like the high key look, good job!

[Matt Tucker]

I agree with the previous comments that the image could be improved by cropping from the right and reducing the amount of sharpening. My main reason for commenting is just to add another vote that the background works. You did the right thing.