chickadee and a deer (sort of)

[stevefossimages]

Hey all:

This is of course just a variation of the common "bird on a stick" theme we see so often among avian photographers. But I'm curious if the antlers work for you. Do they add anything to the image? Are they better than, say, a spruce branch or a birch twig perch? Or do they add nothing, or even detract? This is one from a small pool of chickadee images I'll be choosing as part of a show, and I'm interested in whether you all find it attractive. In my experience, bird photographs only sell well when they have something more to offer than simply a sharp image of a bird, something intimate or artsy. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Canon 1D Mk2n, Canon 400 f2.8 Mk2, Canon 1.4 TC, iso200, 1/500 at f4, tripod

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/stfcatfish/looking-up-2.jpg

[canonloader]

Hey Steve, where you been? Yes, it looks very cool. Even more so if it was on a live deer. :)

[stevefossimages]

Mitch, I was out on a week-long wilderness backpacking trip. I went alone into the Pow Wow Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to get away from it all. Well, I got away from the nice weather, because it rained every day, but it was well worth it. :D

As for the image, I'm hoping the background bokeh with colors complementing the antler and bird, the antler itself and the bird's pose may offer enough value in combination to be attractive to buyers. And I'm asking anyone who looks at this image for their opinion. It's well known that avian photographers look at images differently than the non-photographic bird lovers, and I'd like to know how this image makes you feel.

[canonloader]

Sounds like a great trip. I once spent one year and one day living in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico, for the same reason. To get away from it all. I know exactly what you mean. :)

I think the composition is great, but I would like to see the bird a little brighter and with more of the color showing, to offset the greyscale of the antlers and BG.

[ajosteve]

Steve I'm no expert at photography so what I say might be dribble. I like the shot, but I can't really see the bird's head, beak and eyes that well. Maybe on a large print this stands out better. My computer screen just doesn't show those details. I like the bird on the antler...something different and unique. steve

[stevefossimages]

Thanks Steve and Mitch. It's darker here after I posted it than it is on my screen in photoshop, so I definitely agree with your both that the bird should be brighter, particularly the darkest areas, which brings out more detail.

[hTr]

Nice Composition Steve and I really like the Idea!!!!

[sugarzebra]

I like it Steve...unique idea and the antlers really act to frame the bird. All the best with the upcoming show.

[ak_powder_monkey]

awesome shot

[stevefossimages]

Thanks everybody. It's a permanent show that I mounted in June. So far it's gone very well, with a good number sold of both framed/matted images and mounted images in plastic bags in the gift store. It's at Grand Superior Lodge along the North Shore of Lake Superior northeast of Duluth. I'm probably going to add this one to the collection.