Goldfinches

As I have commented on other members images I thought it only fair I should now request honest critique for this image of Goldfinches taken earlier in the year.

Thanks for looking

Techs:

1Dmk3
Canon 500mm L F4
F6.3
1/400 sec
Centre weighted metering
Gitzo 3541 LS Tripod
Wimberley Gimbal Head

I love that there are two of them but they look a little flat except for the yellow and a tad soft, there needs to be more detail I think, but see what others say, but like i said great to see two and love the teasel.

Hi Karen,

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to reply to my request for honest c&c.

Looking at the image on screen versus a 36 x 24cm print it does not look as good. Perhaps the image has lost it's appeal in web processing.

But thanks again for commenting I really appreciate it.

Shaun

Hi Shaun, it certainly doesn't look flat, more lacking detail. Did you run any NR, as it seems to have similar traits to another image posted where it had been applied without a mask and flattened all detail?

I like the comp and the slight bend of the thistle, but again, these mono BG's for me, just leaves it rather sterile.

Steve

Judging by the sharpness of the stem and the birds, I'd say they're both slightly OOF. It's difficult to tell at this size but the lower bird looks worse than the top.

It also looks slightly under-exposed. It is the latter that gives the duller impression that Karen was referring to, though this can be easily fixed at PP.

Regards,

Des

By saying flat Shaun it means to me the colours aren t vibrant enough, the colour needs bringing out, I do agree however on one thing that Stephen said was about NR, it does look like its been run on the birds to, if so just run it on the background, and I have no problem with the background

Hi Shaun, the image is very flat in appearance as posted, both bids appear to be out of focus as the focus points seems to be on the thistle between the birds,the background colour, is very complementary.

Phil.

it's an attractive composition Shaun and I like the background colour but I agree with the points above. A levels lift would help but I would check your AF point (e.g. in Canon's DPP) and I suspect it's fallen between the 2 birds.

Matt

Nits covered Shaun - goldfinch on teasel is a classic bird shot and whilst it's nice to have two on the one stem, my own thoughts on this image are that I don't think the background colour (nice as it is in itself) does the birds any favours. To my eye it's a little too similar to the main colour of the birds' feathers and the actual teasel and does nothing to help bring out the more vibrant colours of these lovely little birds

Nearly but not quite, they are saying. Personally I like it, even though, I suppose there is room for improvement. Next time....

I quite like the composition with the teasel going from corner to corner. Two birds within the frame is excellent too. Perhaps more space in front of the bottom bird would be better.
As mentioned above, the image does look very flat and lacking in punch and detail. Easily sorted though. But, unfortunately it looks as though the lower bird isn't in focus. I'd suspect that your depth of field was a little too shallow at f6.3. Upping the ISO and selecting a smaller aperture would have been beneficial here, but easy to say that in hindsight.