Great Tit but Bad light

First image posting - wish it was better
On the feeder perch this morning - light as flat as it can get!
Best DoF I could get, pity about the tail but I couldn't wring any more out of it without the image looking too 'flashy'.

D200
Sig 500mm
ASA400
1/250th @f5.6
SB800 set Manual 1/2 -1/3EV

EXIF - Neat Image + CS2 USM

Best Regards

Andy

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the forum

A nice first post, you have metioned DOF, maybe a bit tight in the frame on the left for me as well.
I think the grey BG is also giving this image a feeling of colour flatness.
As far as the Great Tit goes I think you will be able to get more out of it with levels/curves and some more saturation.

HTH

Regards

Rob

Hi Andy,

I've just done a very slight levels/curves adjustment and added a little saturation. Do you think this has helped or not?? I will delete it if you want me too.

Regards

Rob

Hi Andy
welcome to the Forum
nice first image and you have pointed out the nits yourself.
John
Aberdeen.

Welcome Andy. Nice first post and shame about the light being flat, but sometimes it helps to keep the whites and shows the black detail more. Far easier to shoot in those conditions but harder to process to get a vibrant image for posting I've found out. DOF can't be helped and I reckon you'd need about f32 to get that tail sharp Slightly tight in the frame for me, a bit more space on the left and bottom would help compositionally I think. Nice to have the feet sharp as well. Good image

Graeme

Hi Andy

Welcome to the forum - a nice shot and you have already identified the main problems. I also agree with Graeme re composition and find it a little too tight to the left and bottom left!

David

Hi Rob - when I tried that in CS2 I didn't like it, but now you've done it it seems better

Cheers for that!

Andy

Thanks for the comments guys - all gratefully received