[fionaB]

look at me i have wings!



as always CnC appreciated

fi

[Charlotte]

He's a lovely chap. The thing that spoils this for me is that his head, beak + eyes are the only area of his whole body that are not in sharp focus I imagine this is because he was moving his head. Thus a faster shutter speed was required.

Also he does blend in with the BG a bit, + needed to be separated from it somehow - particularly his head because this is not sharp - maybe by darkening the BG + blurring it some more.

Compo-wise, I'd crop an inch or so off the top. I realise you've left this area as "looking-into space" but I think a closer crop at the top would work better to balance the comp more, since the other 3 sides are closely cropped.

I would desaturate the green plant he's sitting on, as it's the only bright colour in the image + as such stands out too much so as to draw attention away from the bird.

[fionaB]

thanx charlotte..... i think darkening hte BG would blend him in even more tho cos of hte dark feathers.... damn stoopid burds wont sit still for a few seconds! lol have to move as soon as they see me coming! lol

Fi

[Boofers]

They see your lens as a big eye,,,

[skipper954]

Charlotte obviously has younger eyes than do I. I don't see any softness in the eyes, beak, head, etc.

And for me, the bg is sufficiently blurred to separate this inquisitive bird from it. And I really like his look.

Agree that the green can be de-emphasized a bit.

There is just something about the composition that bothers me, and I guess it is the tight crop. As Char suggests, cropping a bit more off the top seems to help.

So your new Nikon is causing you to photography animal life rather than the dearly departed???

(and I know.....the Nikon comment is a dig.)

skip

[fionaB]

lolol thanx Skip. hehehehe @ nikon............

Cos its summer we are making the best of the weather ( when we get it ) and murray is enjpying not having to be dragged thru "another" castle............ expect lots of Tin mines etc in a few weeks when i get back from the holidays in Cornwall!
but im sure i will find an odd graveyard and cemetary to shoot! hehe

Fi

[Rob Barron]

I must have young eyes like Charlotte then Skip as there is no question to me the beak and head are soft here. It is a shame as the rest of the pic is excellent. The downward angle simply means the AF has locked onto the higher contrast of the body rather than the smaller area of the head.

When using AF, look for the red boxes that flash Fi so you can see which area the camera is locking onto.

Cheers,
Rob

[fionaB]

i have the auto focus point fixed to the centre point Rob.

Fi

[Rob Barron]

If that's the case Fi, you will have to aim with the centre exactly over his beak/eyes, semi-press to focus, keep it half pressed and recompose before shooting. Otherwise you'll get this problem a lot.

Cheers,
Rob

[fionaB]

i did.....lol he moved!

fi