Possible contest entry, what are your thoughts?

[|)\/8]

There is a photo contest in which the theme is perched birds. I was thinking about entering this photo, what are your thoughts and/or suggestions for improvement? EXIF data is intact.

Pearched Mourning Dove

http://www.dykstra.us/images/IMG_8555.jpg

2nd edit

http://www.dykstra.us/images/IMG_8555_rw.jpg

[LeuceDeuce]

She's a bit washed out. If you have the original RAW I would process it to bring out as much detail as you can in the dove. Then double process the image to reduce the impact of the background (Darken, Reduce Saturation, or a combination of both).

[LeuceDeuce]

After bringing back some detail in the dove (I don't know how dark the bird actually is so you'd have to make that judgement call) I decided that the background was very nice without changing it.

Visual sample:

[LeuceDeuce]

Changed my mind and got rid of the blue:

[|)\/8]

Thank you for your advice and edits. These birds are really pretty pale (the ones that I see anyway). I made a second edit in which I tried to bring out more detail in the bird and also toned down the background a bit.

[blackcap]

Nice and sharp, but I find bird shots with lots of branches in the background too distracting.

[tonydee]

Your bird has points of overexposure, improved a lot in LeuceDeuce's last repost, but could be improved further with some cloning, smudging and burning etc. around the head, especially above the beak. The branches are very busy, my instinctive reaction wasn't favourable, but then I think it's kind of interesting to wrap the bird in all that business while still providing an unobstructed view, and it's grown on me. Considered alone, the branches suggest a B&W conversion, but I'm not sure that would flatter the bird. My final thought is be careful of saturation... it takes attention off the bird, and can virge on garish. So, perhaps some desaturation of everything but the bird, without going nearly so far as a "selective colouring" (or whatever it's called) shot. Cheers, Tony

[bbulldog]

The bird looks too flat, like a cut-out. Especially the head. not sure how to correct that myself, maybe someone can help

[|)\/8]

Your bird has points of overexposure, improved a lot in LeuceDeuce's last repost, but could be improved further with some cloning, smudging and burning etc. around the head, especially above the beak. The branches are very busy, my instinctive reaction wasn't favourable, but then I think it's kind of interesting to wrap the bird in all that business while still providing an unobstructed view, and it's grown on me. Considered alone, the branches suggest a B&W conversion, but I'm not sure that would flatter the bird. My final thought is be careful of saturation... it takes attention off the bird, and can virge on garish. So, perhaps some desaturation of everything but the bird, without going nearly so far as a "selective colouring" (or whatever it's called) shot. Cheers, Tony

Yes I can see how the photo looks very busy, but like you said it grew on me as the bird actually seemed to be naturally framed. Perhaps the paleness of the bird just gets lost in the other bright colors, I will look at desturating them a bit. In my 2nd edit, the color of the bird is very realistic.