Despite the lighting..

[KenjiS]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/scifiguy1012/Photography/IMG_8058-Edit.jpg

What do you think? Lighting isnt perfect I know..but the bird isnt the most colorful out there

[kanonshooter]

It's a cool shot. A bit grainy, but I don't mind grain as much as others do.

It has atmosphere, which is important. Not earth shattering or anything, but a cool capture. Technically, it looks like it could use a little contrast. Also, the one little branch cuts right through his head. I know you can't tell a blackbird to move a little to the left, so you take what you can get sometimes.

[DerekSimon]

I like it somewhat, I just wish there was more light in the shot. The idea behind the shot is really interesting overall.

[Robert_Lay]

Am I correct in guessing that this shot is into the sun, and that the bird is backlighted or in silhoette?

[masterwillems]

Am I correct in guessing that this shot is into the sun, and that the bird is backlighted or in silhoette?

If you see it like that then you need to re-calibrate your monitor, it was a clouded day and the cloud was blocking the sun. Not the bird.

[joedlh]

It sure would be nice if that twig wasn't growing out of its head. The other one growing out of its wing too. It looks tonally flat. Maybe try increasing contrast? It might enhance the eye a bit. I don't think the out of focus trunk on the left does anything for the image.

[KenjiS]

It sure would be nice if that twig wasn't growing out of its head. The other one growing out of its wing too. It looks tonally flat. Maybe try increasing contrast? It might enhance the eye a bit. I don't think the out of focus trunk on the left does anything for the image.

I pushed the contrast pretty far

And actually there was sun/strong backlighting, thats a +2 EC image right there if i remember right

As for grain, tis ISO800, not my cleanest, and the sharpening probubly enhanced the grain a bit

Heres a second try taking everything everyone said into account...

Heres the original to reference, unsharpened, no post processing:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/scifiguy1012/Photography/IMG_8058.jpg

And heres my second try..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/scifiguy1012/Photography/IMG_8058-Edit-2.jpg

Better?

And the original

[tonydee]

Personally, I prefer the original crop and greyer background. I think the biggest thing you could do to improve the image is just to bring up a touch more detail in the head... the viewer instinctively wants to see the eye clearly there, and it's a bit of a quagmire of black as the eye slips up the back (showing terrific colour) and into the head seeking that eye. I do agree with the suggestions for cloning/healing out the small twigs overlapping the bird. The shadows on the branch indicate overhead lighting, which is consistent with brighter exposure on the back (being perpendicular to the light). Cheers, Tony

[Flo]

If you see it like that then you need to re-calibrate your monitor, it was a clouded day and the cloud was blocking the sun. Not the bird.

:confused: Not your shot?

I think its a good practice shot;) It's pretty busy all around the bird, so the eye goes everywhere( mine does anyways).there will always be a bird somewhere!:D

[MaxSteel]

Mind if I take a shot at editing the original?

[KenjiS]

Mind if I take a shot at editing the original?

Knock yourself out :)

[KenjiS]

:confused: Not your shot?

I think its a good practice shot;) It's pretty busy all around the bird, so the eye goes everywhere( mine does anyways).there will always be a bird somewhere!:D

Agreed, I've just been working on shooting in those difficult lighting situations..

[KenjiS]

Personally, I prefer the original crop and greyer background. I think the biggest thing you could do to improve the image is just to bring up a touch more detail in the head... the viewer instinctively wants to see the eye clearly there, and it's a bit of a quagmire of black as the eye slips up the back (showing terrific colour) and into the head seeking that eye. I do agree with the suggestions for cloning/healing out the small twigs overlapping the bird. The shadows on the branch indicate overhead lighting, which is consistent with brighter exposure on the back (being perpendicular to the light). Cheers, Tony

I very much agree, my only feeling is that when the eye is more visible, the rest of his face/body looks washed out :( Its a no-win situation I seem to be having with darker-colored birds...thus the practicing and looking for help :)