What Are Your Tastes

[K9Kirk]

I've always had mixed feelings about this shot and in my mind's eye I've pictured the bird in different positions, changes of color, and comp. but I would like to hear what others would do specifically to improve this pic, other than burn it, lol!

1114-studio1 by Kirk Behymer, on Flickr

 

[Levina]

I love the low angle, the colours, the light. The problem that I see is that the bird is turned away from the camera. If he had just turned his head a bit.

Having said that, I was once a member of Arthur Morris’ bird forum. That forum was a place to learn so every pic you posted was critiqued. And the bird’s head angle was crucial! I didn’t stay there long but the head angle thing stuck.

 

[Darren75]

I like the overall feel of the shot. You bird photographers really like to get dirty. But I got to say, that low angle is really nice.

 

[Jan1977]

The angle of the bird towards the camera is not the favorable position. The large negative space, although it does add to the overall look and feel of the image, does make the position of the bird more relevant for the photo, and that position isn't the strong point...
So if we don't burn it, I think a panoramic crop can make it a bit more pleasing. Losing part of the top and bottom negative space, but keeping the feel intact. I would put the bird on the left, so it has space to move right which would fit more by the position of the bird in the photo. I think I would crop the highlights of on the left or clone them out. Due to its position the main subject is not super attractive in the photo, leaving room for the viewer's eye to look around for other subjects. The highlights on the left, being so bright than draw attention, although they are not really interesting enough to aid the photo.
Maybe a selective adjustment to the bird to make it a little warmer temperature might make the photo more appealing, but I'm not sure about that.

Here is the sort of crop I have in mind. I could not see if you approve edits on your photos here on the forum or not, but given this thread I guess it is OK here. If you do not approve on it, let me know and I will edit the post and remove the cropped version. I did not do a selective adjustment on the bird color temperature as I'm not sure about it and the photo might not be 'worth' it.

 

[JohnPD]

Crop looks good.

 

[Levina]

The angle of the bird towards the camera is not the favorable position. The large negative space, although it does add to the overall look and feel of the image, does make the position of the bird more relevant for the photo, and that position isn't the strong point...
So if we don't burn it, I think a panoramic crop can make it a bit more pleasing. Losing part of the top and bottom negative space, but keeping the feel intact. I would put the bird on the left, so it has space to move right which would fit more by the position of the bird in the photo. I think I would crop the highlights of on the left or clone them out. Due to its position the main subject is not super attractive in the photo, leaving room for the viewer's eye to look around for other subjects. The highlights on the left, being so bright than draw attention, although they are not really interesting enough to aid the photo.
Maybe a selective adjustment to the bird to make it a little warmer temperature might make the photo more appealing, but I'm not sure about that.

Here is the sort of crop I have in mind. I could not see if you approve edits on your photos here on the forum or not, but given this thread I guess it is OK here. If you do not approve on it, let me know and I will edit the post and remove the cropped version. I did not do a selective adjustment on the bird color temperature as I'm not sure about it and the photo might not be 'worth' it.
View attachment 1079

That looks good, Jan. Improved the shot considerably. I hadn't even thought of cropping...

 

[Blackbird]

I agree. The crop is nice. I like the picture. The brown/orange colors on the wing are lovely.

 

[Jan1977]

I agree. The crop is nice. I like the picture. The brown/orange colors on the wing are lovely.

Indeed. The selective color adjustment I had in mind would emphasize those brown/ orange colors which would add some more color contrast to the blue-ish tone of the environment.