Goldfinches

Goldfinches on Burdock
Taken from the bathing hide on a Burdock bush behind the pool.
D200 Sigma 100-300
640 ISO
80th @f8
Cheers
JohnR

Doesn't quite work for me if I'm honest John.
Great to see two birds together on the same perch and it looks like they were even co-operative enough to stay within the area of sharp focus.
What spoils it for me though is the background which I find just a little too distracting, mainly because of the very light areas on the right-hand side of the frame, and to a lesser extent the vertical band on the left.

the colours all go here and to have two of them perched like that is great.

Thanks both. I agree Justin - the hide is in shade and then you get the sun coming down in beams through the oaks above. It was a case of grabbing a shot just because it was there, and after all the hide was for the pool really. It was interesting I thought because of them eating the burdock seeds which was another first for me.I thought about toning down the bright bits but thought better of it. Theres a fair bit of DOF with the 300 and this is a big crop so if you blow it up its not that sharp really.
The interesting thing is that Goldies are a bit like Bullfinches -
they often stop in pairs around the pool at least.
Cheers
JohnR

Wish I was fortunate enough to have them visiting my hide too. One of them would be nice let alone a pair of them

Nice shot...excluding the background - gotta take what's there though! Would prefer it with a little cropped off the LHS, perhaps to the end of their perch.

Simon

they're certainly an attractive pair and I like the golden colours but the background does compete for your attention somewhat. I have a regular flock of goldfinches (typically 4 or 5 birds) in my garden but unfortunately the light is terrible in my garden at this time of year so photographic opportunities are limited.

Matt

Actually John, even with the uneven background I quite like it. At least the colours in the background are complimentary to the birds.
Robert

Hi John, I definitely like this it shows the 2 birds in their natural habitat.

Hi John,

I like the image as it is. It's a lovely picture with nice warm colours.

I think this is charming and attractive John, but its not going win a beauty contest. Bit like as with people really.

John

Hi john, i agree the BG is not very complimentry and its a shame the light wasnt on the birds, i like the two on a perch though, just seen some GF's at my feeding station for the first time today which was exciting.

Agree with Justin that the bright background bands draw attention a bit, but nonetheless its a nice shot and not much you can do about the sunlight - we're normally moaning there isn't any at all so can hardly complain when there is! I'm another one wishing these visited my garden, I've seen some a few hundred yards away at a small park and had nyger seeds out for them but so far no takers!

Beautiful

Danny