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Female House Finch
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Female House Finch

by Carol Hyman

Gallery: AvianPosted May 7, 20081,659 views15 comments
This is actually a re-worked and re-framed image that I submitted a couple of weeks ago under the title of Identity Crisis. I figured too much time had gone by to re-post and I would like some feedback on the changes I made to the image.

Shooting data:
D200, f/4 500 mm lens, f/9, 1/320s, ISO 200, Aperture mode, Tripod.

Many of you said the image was overly bright on your monitors. Oh, how right you were :smile:

Some of you objected to the OOF partial tree branch on the right. Well, when I re-framed the image, I actually included more of it. I think it helps frame the bird. Because it is out of focus and because the Female House Finch pops out a bit more (I modified the exposure in Camera Raw), I think the OOF branch helps rather than hinders.

I also figured out that I should listen not only to those of you who take the time to leave critiques but also to the little voice in my own head that I use when I write critiques :jump: It's so much easier to view and critique an image belonging to someone else. Then, the major worry is simply being tactful.

Thanks for taking a second look around. :wavey:

Carol

Comments

15 comments
Comment posted by Paul Inglis on May 7, 2008 at 5:25 PM

Hi Carol,

I hear you! :wink: I actually thought the last image was great, but the re-work you've done here is astounding! I love the immense detail that shows in the subject! The toned down background is much more pleasing to the eye! and I agree with you about the out of focus partial tree! Awesome re-post!
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 23, 2007, 26 Posts, 2832 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on May 7, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Hello Carol. Wow, what a difference! Doesn't even look like the same image! Definitely has a completely different feel to it. Great job! :jump:
Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 7, 2008 at 6:05 PM
This works very well for me, Carol. The light is perfect now and the branch isn't distracting at all. :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on May 7, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Carol, this one is very nice. I like the reworing you have done. The finch is very sharp and stands out nicely against the background.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 7, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Carol - I just looked at your first post of this image. What an amazing improvement this new version is. Good for you for not giving up on the potential of this shot. :toast:
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Blount on May 7, 2008 at 9:59 PM
Carol,
Looks like you nailed it and didn't know it, this repost is fantastic. Super lighting and feather detail :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 14, 2007, 58 Posts, 535 Comments
Comment posted by Greg Cope on May 7, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Carol, this new version is fantastic! The bird just pops off my screen! Very nicely re-worked to say the least! Its a beautiful image....and I'd love to see just a teeny crop off the extreme left and right to remove the branches that abruptly end...but this is only a personal preference. Once again, the difference between the two images is astounding! :toast:
Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Harbour on May 7, 2008 at 10:51 PM
I really like the details in and the lighting on the bird, Carol. Great pose too. :toast:
Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on May 7, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Very nice job with the adjustments Carol. The OOF branch in the background does not bother me at all. Super detail in the finch. :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 8, 2008 at 1:21 AM
Great job on the adjustments Carol it looks much better, since this gal is in your yard you may be able to shoot at an angle that excludes the trunk on the right in the future. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on May 8, 2008 at 1:59 AM
I didn't see your first image, Carol; but it looks like you did a fine job at handling the exposure on what appears to be some pretty harsh lighting. :smile:
Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on May 8, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Carol

Wow, what can I say? This is a much improved version of this image and I really like it!
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Backlund on May 8, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Much better! Great job on the post processing. I'm really amazed you were able to pull out that much detail.
Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments
Comment posted by Graham Brown on August 6, 2008 at 6:11 AM
This is really good now Carol. I think the background branch adds to the image - too much empty space in backgrounds for my liking today. The head position is very good and the light catching the bird full on is perfect.
Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments
Comment posted by Cheyenne Howell on December 31, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Beautiful, Carol. The OOF branch works for me. As you stated, it really makes the bird stand out more.
Registered on March 20, 2007, 190 Posts, 678 Comments