Reed bunting and cropping

This image was a portrait crop from landscape, but does it work? Not sure whether I should have given it more space to look into, but that would have risked getting too square, which personally I don't really like. Any thoughts appreciated.

Dave

1DMkIII + 500mm + 1.4xTC
1/125sec at f/5.6 and ISO800 and +1EV
Routine stuff in LR2

I actually like a square format if it is required for good composition. The only problem is I hate wasting paper if printing it and framing also isn't standard. If you have a little room top and bottom, either a looser portrait, or square would work well IMO.

This was the original ..

First one looks OK to me.
JR

Ah! I think square is best. Hope you don't mind, but I had a little fiddle. I added +9 of saturation and a little USM and selective sharpening of eye. Of course, this is all about personal preference at the end of the day.

Don't mind at all Ian Still not sure about square, but the bunting looks a whole lot better - I'll have another go at the original raw and try the same tweaks.

Dave

Hi Dave.
I think the original is great,would be more than pleased with it.

Keith.

A difficult one... for me I think it would have worked better had you had the chance to flip the camera to portrait, I think the bird would have been the right size in the frame, as presented the first image is fine for web presentation but otherwise it is too large in the frame for my taste (personal). I seem to prefer the original frame with perhaps some from the left (as you look at it) with an equal amount added to the right?

Nice one...

Hi Dave nice capture but the BG is a bit distracting for me.

Sharp where it counts, a nice little portrait. The square crop has it.

A fine image Dave. As for cropping this is a difficult one. I would say that your first posted crop is about right. It may be a bit tight and not always my preference but the direction of the birds gaze doesn't give much option (to my eye anyway). The improvements done by Ian have lifted the shot quite a bit especially the selective eye sharpening.
Robert

I've taken the liberty...

I have to agree with Phil regarding the cropping on this one, while original shot leaves few options, a 'squarer' crop (rather then perfectly square) taking only from the left, works better for me. (I appreciate it's not hugely different from the square crop, but I like the extra background habitat as well!).

Greg

Hi Dave

Very nice image - I think the portrait format is right just needed a little more canvas top and bottom!

David

I can appreciate the dilemma as there are pros and cons to all of the options above - good luck choosing! The shot itself is really pleasing and the reprocessing has boosted it

Many thanks to all of you for the comments and help - really very much appreciated Lots to think about regarding cropping and selective adjustment, and I really must remember that the camera will turn through 90 degrees if needed !!

Dave

A nice image well caught. Gregs improvements work best for me.

Lee