# Yellow-headed Black Bird **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [June 14, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/yellow-headed-black-bird/35628 "2023-06-14T04:05:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![S\_Govindarajan](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/s_govindarajan/32/423_2.png) [@S\_Govindarajan](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/S_Govindarajan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/yellow-headed-black-bird/35628/1 "2023-06-14T04:05:40Z")
![YHBB-1.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/6/0/6079d76d537975a2b4981c34e5cf5cedb8f169d4.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description Greetings all: It has been a while since I posted on this forum. Hope you are all doing well. This is an image taken last month at the Bear River Refuge. The yellow-headed blackbirds were establishing their territories and singing from their favorite perches. I enjoyed seeing these colorful birds in the surrounding greenery. ### Specific Feedback Any, all. I composed this to include the entire phragmite stalk. Would like to hear your feedback on the composition and elements. ### Technical Details 840mm, 1/1000s@F7.1, ISO800. Taken from the car. Processed for the web. I cloned out a couple of oof reed stalks behind the bird that I found a little distracting. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/yellow-headed-black-bird/35628/2 "2023-06-14T16:29:27Z")
This is really nice, Govind. I like the full stalk with the seed head included-it adds a lot to the image. I’ve never seen one of these with that kind of extension on the neck-obviously “singing” it’s heart out. Since you’ve already done some cloning on this, there’s just the tip of an in-focus stem sticking into the bottom of the frame that tends to catch my eye. ---
**Author:** ![Stephen\_Stanton](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/stephen_stanton/32/575_2.png) [@Stephen\_Stanton](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Stephen_Stanton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/yellow-headed-black-bird/35628/3 "2023-06-14T20:32:19Z")
Nice job on removing the oof reeds you mentioned. Agree with Dennis on the small stem on the bottom. The blacks could maybe use some opening up for just a detail or two more. Overall the comp works well, but I would be tempted to try and crop out the pale layer on the top and push in from the right to keep the current format. I saw a few of these Yellow-heads in E. Washington mid May but couldn’t get close enough for a decent image, enjoyed seeing yours, Govind. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/yellow-headed-black-bird/35628/4 "2023-06-14T23:28:51Z")
Wonderful capture of a species I’ve not seen. The lighter layer at the top (water?) feels OK but the tip of the reed extending into it becomes colorless, which doesn’t feel right. I think you could clone out the stalks that exit the frame on the right. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/yellow-headed-black-bird/35628/5 "2023-06-15T14:59:47Z")
Hi Govin, good to see you posting again. I love the singing pose and the yellow is quite nice. Nice placement of subject in the frame. I like this version as is even though the tweaks mentioned above could also be good to check out. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![S\_Govindarajan](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/s_govindarajan/32/423_2.png) [@S\_Govindarajan](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/S_Govindarajan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/yellow-headed-black-bird/35628/6 "2023-06-15T17:56:57Z")
Thank you, all, for your feedback. Good catch and suggestion on the in-focus reed at the bottom, @Dennis_Plank. I did not notice it when I was processing the image. These birds contort themselves quite a bit when they are singing.