Spotted Flycatcher

[TeeCee105]

One of my favourite bird species.
The Spotted Flycatcher may be less colourful than some other species, but they seem to have SO much character about them, that I find it all too easy to lose track of the time whilst watching them.

Hope you like this - but your C&C will tell me.




Canon 1D, MK4; 700mm (500mm + 1.4 ext);
Exposure: 1/640; F-stop: 6.3; ISO speed: 400; Exposure bias: +0.3:

[TeeCee105]

Ok, this doesn't seem to have struck a chord with anyone ... good or bad.

Back to the drawing board!

[grumpygeorge]

must admit that i had a quick peep and just moved on.

its a very nice shot. there are lots of very nice shots posted here and i dont reply to them all. its just the way it is. but i would v been a wee bit peeved at 40 of us looking and no replying

so ive replied

[Magpiemick]

Its a nice image Tony, Like the bow perch although maybe tone it down slightly and the Bg is very complimentary ..

Could the bird handle some more USM ..

Mick ..

[Pete W]

Tony
Like this as you say a fairly plain looking bird but then so many are in the UK. :)

The perch works well and you have given plenty of room around the bird, maybe a little to much. It is a personal thing but I would be inclined to try a crop that removes the right hand side where the twig goes upward and a bit off the top and bottom to compensate...

[Black Rat]

I am only jealous mate. I was walking around rainham marshes and missed this. Was this you putting it over the air a few days back at Rainham. Like the detail on the bird, the pose is very good and the BG is spot on for me. Very nice capture...BR

[TeeCee105]

Thanks for the comments Guys.
GG - You're right, not every image engages with those viewing. Guess i was surprised that as nearly 40 people had viewed it, no-one had written anything good or bad. Was concerned that it was thought bland.
Mick - I'll try to have a go a toning down the perch. Guess I need to do this via a layer - must learn how to do this. My post processing skills are minimal.
Pete - Thanks for the thought re the crop. Will try your suggestion when I try to deal with the bright perch. Had wanted to keep the full sweep of the perch and to use the branch stub to "balance" the bird.
Basil - There were 4 or 5 Spot Flies around last week but it was a matter of patience for them to come close enough but no, I wasn't a finder. Glad you like it.

[Magpiemick]

It would work also if you use the Lasso Tool and draw around the bright area of the branch and then either levels or shadows/highlights ..
Far easier than a layer ..

Mick ..

[TeeCee105]

Thanks for the tip Mick.
Given it a go and you are correct, it was far easier than using layers.

Pete, have tried your suggestion about a tighter crop but have found it a tad awkward to retain the arch of the perch and balance the space around the subject.



Questions are now ...
Is this any better?
Is the space below and to the left of the bird too tight?

[Tinkerbell]

This is a beautiful little bird. I know it's personal preference but I prefer shot number one purely because it shows more of the arc of the perch. Very nice.

[TeeCee105]

Thanks Tinkerbell.
I too think that the composition is better with "the full" arch showing.
The idea of posting the re-work was to gauge the reaction of the Forum members to the suggestions from Pete and Mick.
I'm keen to learn how to improve my images and greatly value the help and advice given by everyone.

[Richard T]

original image for me too! Although the twig on the right does draw my attention

[ST]

Tony, IMO both images are very good, either one (if you hadn't seen the other) have their plus points and I would be proud to have taken them. The second one would get my vote if...each end of the perch hit their respective corners as they do in the first image! I hope that makes sense.

[TeeCee105]

Thanks Guys.
Richard - yep I wasn't too sure about that twig but left it in to balance the bird. It looked a bit lopsided without it.
Peter - Much appreciated. I did try to achieve the compete arch in the re-work but I found the geometry precluded that.

[neptuno]

A lovely bird Tony. I prefer the first despite the twig. I dont think you always need to crop in too tight as with this shot the arch of the twig i think is an important part of the image

Stan