Stonechat - clone or not??

Lots of these little chaps around the east coast at the moment
Other than a slight crop i've left it as it was although clearly there are a lot of rather messy stalks and branches would I could start removing (if I had the time)

At the end of the day I think i prefer it how it is because any cloning would probably be on a major scale and then it wouldn't be how it was!

C & C most welcome

D300
300F4 + 1.4

Hi Stephen,

I think you should clone the bird out and you'll have a nice landscape! Just kidding! Honestly!!!

IMO leave it as it is! This is a nice BIH image! Can't wait for them to start showing here in greater numbers!!!

Looks ok to me.
JR

It's a nice presentation of the bird in it's environment. Maybe more suited for print than the web, but I definitely wouldn't clone anything out here!

I like it just as it is. Nice shot!

Dave

Hi Stephen

Looks good as is!

David

Hi Stephen

Hope you don't mind me having a play around with this great shot. Here is how I would present it if it were mine.

Portrait I know looses a bit of its environment but for me it could of done with a bit more sharpening to bring out a bit more plumage detail. Also by adding a bit more light to the image it brought out that important catchlight in the eye, which was faint. No cloning necessary IMO as this is how it was.

Great shot by the way of a cracking little bird.

Nice shot and a classic pose in a typical Stonechat environment. No need to clone out anything.



Paul

Hi Stephen, I agree with Paul's suggestion just joking . It is a very nice shot of the bird in the env.

I think both the original and Vincents crop work well at showing the stonechat in a typical environment, which you choose would depend on how large you wanted the bird within the frame. I would leave it as is. Nothing to be gained by cloning unless you enjoy it.

John Lee

Thanks everyone

I was after a shot in the environment rather than a close up so pleased others feel it worked

Vincent - thanks for the input, I had considered this but wasnt sure if it would leave enough detail in the bird as I was considering a print and had already cropped a bit anyway. Agree about adding more light , it does help bring out the catchlight

Thanks again

Stephen

No need to clone but i just think the bird is a tad too small in the frame for my likings.
Rene de Heer

I'm with Rene - just a bit small in the frame for me, perhaps cropping a bit more off, but keeping the same ratio and position in the 1/3rds would work? Agree no need to clone anything here, the stalks are the environment and don't interfere with the subject at all