Hiding (What's your opinion of this shot ?)

[speck]

Please critique this shot and let me know what you think and what can be improved.
Thanks.

[stougard]

Originally Posted by speck Please critique this shot and let me know what you think and what can be improved. Thanks.

Nice picture, but why the bird is so small, maybe change the lighting (see filter in PS) to put a hot point on the bird, currently, the light on the leafs divert the eye from the main point.

[Pablo]

Hi speck,

I like the photo.

I don't think I would have cropped it any different myself, but the background is distracting.

Should be more out of focus ? then again, maybe in focus ?

I guess this doesn't help much ....

Still like it though

[speck]

Originally Posted by stougard Nice picture, but why the bird is so small, maybe change the lighting (see filter in PS) to put a hot point on the bird, currently, the light on the leafs divert the eye from the main point.

Hi Stougard,

The bird IS small and I only had the 80-200mm lens without any teleconverter. Couldn't get closer without frightening the bird off.
Thanks for the input about the lighting and filter in PS. Just starting to learn how to PP with PS.

Thanks.
speck

[speck]

Originally Posted by Pablo Hi speck, I like the photo. I don't think I would have cropped it any different myself, but the background is distracting. Should be more out of focus ? then again, maybe in focus ? I guess this doesn't help much .... Still like it though

Hi Pablo,

It is good to hear from you. Learnt something from you the last time about cropping and now have a better view of it when I am cropping. Thanks.

Yes, the background is a bit of a problem. Didn't want to get it more in focus cos there is actually a pole at the back which would have been very distracting. Yet I couldn't make it more out of focus. Had to take the shot fast before the bird flew off.

Thanks for taking the time to give your feedback.

Regards,
speck

[FirstDecember]

I didn't notice the bird until I read the subsequent posts.
Attention was on the branches instead.

But I do understand that if you got any nearer, it might fly off...

So hope you are more lucky the next time round!

[speck]

Originally Posted by FirstDecember I didn't notice the bird until I read the subsequent posts. Attention was on the branches instead. But I do understand that if you got any nearer, it might fly off... So hope you are more lucky the next time round!

Hi FirstDecember,

When I took this shot, my thoughts were not on the bird itself but rather on what the bird appeared to be doing.. i.e. hiding out on the branch of the tree just like another leaf after getting away with some food still in its beaks. Its color matching the color of the leaves nicely, hence the title "Hiding" for the shot.

I was not trying to get a very close up shot of the bird as the showcase itself but more of the overall picture to illustrate the intelligence of the small bird in hiding, hence the leaves and branches are also the primary objects of this shot. Guess I didn't manage to get that thought across.

Thanks for your feedback.