Fire away, it has to be my turn.

[Sylvia]

Fire away.
D300 400 2.8



C&C Welcome.

[Remorhaz]

I think the bird is lovely and well captured, colours are beautiful and the oof background is great. I do however find that oof flower thats so dominant on the right to be very distracting - the bird is looking at it and I think I know where you were going with this but I think it may be too much.

[gstark]

I echo what Rodney has said.

The question is, how to address this, if, of course, the OOF flower is an issue for you. I'm thinking a square crop; perhaps crop out a little more than half of the flower, and see where that takes you.

Perhaps also a selective desat, but I'm not sure if that will work.

[Sylvia]

Yep,
And thanks guys, I agree but wanted to hear it from others, The flower dominates the image, which was my thoughts exactly. It just helps confirm, even oof its got 50-% of the viewable area but it just distracts too much for me.

Anyway thanks again.

[zafra52]

of course, the OOF flower is an issue for you. I'm thinking a square crop; perhaps crop out a little more than half of the flower,

I agree with gstark, but I would also consider allowing more space between the bird and the edge - if you can.

[biggerry]

yep, stands out like dog ....

easy fix imo though, just crop the bird to 6*4 portrait, looks very nic ethen.

[Sylvia]

Yep, and thanks guys,
What about this one. I just can't decide. Its another angle to consider or do you think the flower still distracts too much?

[DebT]

I'd recommend sticking with the 1st but crop to poitrait orientation including only a 1/3 of the grevillia making the bird the feature , in the 2nd I just keep looking at the OOF grevillia in the middle
Nice sharp bird detail especially the eye
Deb

[zafra52]

I'd recommend sticking with the 1st but crop to poitrait orientation including only a 1/3

I second this. Now, the second would have worked for me without the flower.

[Remorhaz]

I'd recommend sticking with the 1st but crop to poitrait orientation including only a 1/3

I second this. Now, the second would have worked for me without the flower.

Yep - just clone out all the flower and leaves there!!!!

[ozimax]

I have photographed these noisy fellas for years. Your photo is sensational; sharp, bright but yes, I would erase the OOF flower too.

Well done.

[surenj]

Do you have any pics with both the flower and bird in focus?

[Sylvia]

Thanks for the comments. I'd like to crop the ones above but I think it will ruin the clarity and aspect.
I have other captures like this one which are large crops already.



My favorite is this one. Not much bird but I like the "peek a boo" aspect.



They move so fast its hard to set up the perfect shot.

[DebT]

think both of the later two are superior shots. The frst uses the OOF forgroung to frame the bird, the second has a sensational background - sharp as birds well done !
Deb