Rare Bird

Image Critiques
1

Rare-Bird-46767A7r3-25.jpg
Rare-Bird-46767A7r3-25.jpg1643×1099 1.51 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

This Eastern Bluebird would not normally be considered a rare bird but for me it’s really rare to get a decent bird shot and after living in our home for over 20 years I do not recall ever seeing one in our trees. We get lots of blue jays but not little guys like this. I was out in our front yard shooting some spring flowers when I spotted him in one of our maple trees. He was backlit and the sun was pretty bright and every time I would try to circle around him to get on the lighted side he would fly away. I chased him all over the courtyard and had just about given up and headed back to the garden when he cooperated and perched where I could get a relatively clear shot. Out of over 130 shots this and a couple others were the only keepers. Brutal honesty appreciated. >=))>

Specific Feedback

This is a pretty severe crop but I was amazed at how well the feather detail came out and the accuracy of the AF. I contemplated cropping away completely the top OOF branch which went all the way across the frame in the original. Is that dark ULC too much of a distraction? Also did some cleanup on some messy twigs in the BG.

Technical Details

Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM-II, 2xTC @ 400mm
ISO 400, 1/500 @ f8 HH

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3

Hi Bill, congrats on getting this beauty. They can surely be tough to track down. My thoughts align with Sandy’s - less sharpening on the bird and remove the dark branch up top. I like all the lichen on the perch - adds another point of interest. Nice catch.

4

Nice catch, Bill. Perseverance does pay off now and then. I agree that the bird and lichen look a bit crunchy to me so I’d back off on the sharpening. I’d also get rid of the stick in the upper left. The crop works nicely.