Winter Waxwing

Jenaya, this is a beautiful image! There is a wonderful, enchanting quality to this. Your composition is very compelling to me...it really seems to enhance the mood of the picure here. Normally one would expect the red berries to be too strong a visual element and distract from the subject, but if any subject could compete surely it's a Bohemian...especially at the angle you captured him here. Somehow, IMO, what you have included in the frame just all makes this work beautifully. The colour palette is gorgeous and the creamy background transitioning from cool grey to that soft peach is just another quality that puts this over the top. Congratulations again, Jaye! You captured a great image.

very nice photo i give it an A+

this is really nice, Jenaya. I really like the lines of the branches and how they work with your comp. the colors are nice throughout, and I think that the oof reds work a lot better in this post than the other, as they don't distract/obscure the bird. nice dof on the bird. I wonder if there's anything you can do to help define the upper border of the eye--not sure what I would try though.

The technicals look good here -- but I like the last photo better because you have more eye contact and the waxwing is doing something.

Jenaya, You have captured a wonderful image of this waxwing. I wish I had one close to it. As to picking which image you should submit to the contest, all I can say is pick the one YOU like.

Nice color in the bird and I like your compositional choice. The vertical branch on the right offers a nice anchor to the OOF red flowers around the opposite part of the frame. A very pleasing image Jenaya.

Both of your Waxwing shots are full of color but I happen to like your first post better because of the eye contact also. Nice job in getting this difficult shots, way to go.

A lovely image, Jenaya. I like the colors of red and yellow in the wings and tail. Nice light in the eye. I'm impressed with your description of the post-procesing that you have done-far more than I can do :). I wish there was a bit more detail in the feathers-you don't mention how much of a crop you have here, but may have been lost there. I look forward to your growth.

Jenaya, both of these waxwing images are terrific shots. This one has a great view of the colourful back. Too bad the head turn isn't ideal. I'd also suggest cloning out that thin branch along the right side of the bird.
The first shot, with the berry in the mouth is - imo - a stronger image. It also has good eye contact - for these reasons, the first would be the one I'd personally choose for a contest.
Good luck!
Sandy

Nice dorsal view of the waxwing, showing off the colors well. A bit of a head turn toward the viewer would have made this an even stronger image IMO.