Still trying

[billabongtim]

Hi to all,
I haven't posted in ages, and I know this has all sorts of exposure problems, but I just like it and wanted to share.
Hope to here opinions.

Tim

[Ziggy]

Overall I think this is are very good image. Like the eye and detail in the bird. The bloom is a plus.

I know some will say to clone out the twigs. I might try cloning out the one on the bottom but I think the rest frame the bird nicely.

[DickyOZ]

Good capture of a Wattle bird Tim. The only thing I would change would be to edit out the OOF branch above the bird's head, it's a bit distracting.

Dicky.

[rpcrowe]

Lovely capture... I would crop the bird a bit closer and remove the OOF branch image-left top...

[Geoff F]

Yes, the bird is looking to the right so a slight crop to remove a little of the left side would work. Then maybe a slight selective toning down of the brighter background area on the left. Otherwise looks fine to me.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Tim,

I am with Geoff, when I viewed this earlier (after deleting your 'false start' thread with no image), the only thing I felt it needed was a crop to the left hand side.

I am usually one of the first to suggest cloning out twigs (sorry Jim!), but on this occasion, the twigs have a lower contrast than the subject, plus they are out of focus.

Welcome back, Dave

[ionian]

There's a bit of chromatic aberration - this should be correctable in your processing programme of choice but it's worth taking the time to do it as its a lovely capture.

[IzzieK]

+1 to Simon...

[Shadowman]

The bird's colors are really bland and if anything you could have emphasized the reds of the ribbon, with a shot like this and your particular subject the goal is to capture enough to identify, emphasize the shape of the subject, and control the other elements. You've managed to subdue the reds and that helps a bit, however red in any composition tends to dominate; so use it to your advantage or eliminate in post-processing. If you think about it, this composition looks a bit like selective coloring and that tends to draw the viewers attention to the selected color; perhaps tone down the red a bit and you might get a more compatible balance.

[billabongtim]

Thank you every one for some very informed opinions and constructive advice. Alas my ability in post processing doesn't reach as far as editing out sticks, and I have no idea what OOF means. Still trying.

Tim

[IzzieK]

OOF means "out of focus" -- OOPS for human error. Anyway, I suggested using Nik's Software Suite with your Lightroom because they are mainly slider-types of editing. It is delightful to go beyond what you have for editing in a small way. Almost everyone here uses that plug-in with either Photoshop or Lightroom.

BTW, I really like that flower. What is it?

[DickyOZ]

BTW, I really like that flower. What is it?

I'm pretty sure it's a Coral tree (Erythrina X sykesii)

[IzzieK]

Thanks Richard...nor good at ID-ing anything really. I can't even ID that body in front of my driveway -- hubby said not to drive over her. Boy! t'was that hard to center her underneath my truck without squashing her fingers!!