Richard, I like it as a piece of art and I can understand your crop. However it took me a while to figure out that bit of stick that the perch is attached to. I think at least, remove that white whatever.
Possibly not for everybody's taste being so small and central in the frame, but I find the simplistic composition rather tasteful and arty, I do like the fade into mist look, but I find myself wishing to see the long tail filaments in better focus. I just wish these lovely birds were more common down in my part of Oz
I am afraid this doesn't work for me. Bird is way too small in the frame to hold all this space around it. I also don't see the justification for the centred composition. The white frame is a bit of an overkill for my taste.
I can only echo Ofer's comments. As a piece of art, I don't think it works. Just too much negative space. This type of rendering will always be subjective. It's like an abstract. You either love it or hate it.. Would love to see this as a tighter crop , and vertical. I do admire your willingness to be different. That is one of the GREAT things about photography.
I love the Bg, the bird just appearing out of the mist is special. I think a large crop from the left and a little off the bottom will really help this.
Very much to my taste. I'd certainly lose the white border but otherwise I'm very fond of the soft sweetness here, and I think center-of-frame works beautifully. I'm a fan of square crops and centered subjects but many of the bird and photography and bird photography aesthetes on the block will turn their noses. Anyhow: kudos and thanks for sharing.
I've been staring at this for a while now and just can't make my mind up. One side of it wants to love it and I can feel what you were going for, I really can! My other side just can't come to grips with it and is looking for justification for the centered comp. I think the BG would need to be even smoother (eliminate what looks like a large darkish circle at right, and smooth out the darker area at left). I dunno, perhaps this needs to be seen huge to make a better impact. Kudos for trying it though, and not many images have had me staring at it for so long as this one!!