Distracting Leaf - LeConte's Sparrow

[diver53]

Does the leaf behind the beak, ruin the image?

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[ButlerKid]

I find the beak distracting and would remove it. AND the partial leaf in the lower right hand corner.

 

[diver53]

Wow, good feedback. Now I like it better. Thanks!

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[Ikarus]

For my taste, the branch is still stabbing directly into its head. I would further remove the branch until its second last fork and see if this fits better.
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Mike (thats_wildlife)

 

[Ralph]

Wow, good feedback. Now I like it better. Thanks!View attachment 105356

Nice!!! Well done

 

[bleirer]

I like the one directly behind the beak because it kind of mirrors the shape of the beak and helps the eye go to the area of emphasis, it works well with the way the blurry area to the right of the body also mirrors the shape of the body. I would remove the one behind the head, the one to the bottom right, and some of the sticks.

You might experiment with cropping to the V formed by the branches, the triangle shape is strong and it works as ""frame within the frame."

 

[MrFotoFool]

Yes, I find it distracting.
(It's a great shot otherwise, and I realize in the field it's hard to notice things like this).

 

[JAJohnson]

Great photo! I’d crop it differently, though. A square crop using the current height dimension would better concentrate focus on the bird. You might still need to use photoshop (or equivalent) to remove the remaining remnant of the stalk of grass on the right and the leaves just above the bird’s head. Then you’d have the sparrow resting on two branches forming a “V” as a nice visual.

 

[diver53]

Thanks guys! Tried some of the suggestions and now its up to me to decide what I like best!

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[ButlerKid]

Just consider that it is generally best to leave more room in the direction the subject is looking....in this case, more room on the right for the bird to "look in to....."

 

[JAJohnson]

Just consider that it is generally best to leave more room in the direction the subject is looking....in this case, more room on the right for the bird to "look in to....."

That would also eliminate some of the stalks on the left, too.

 

[Anthony]

It depends on what you want to achieve.

Personally, I would leave the leaf in because that was the reality and it shows the bird in its natural environment. I am not keen on the last, super processed version.

 

[diver53]

I think I like my 2nd one best (with the leaf behind the beak gone). The stems on the right do pull the eye over, but they are Bushy blue stem grasses and a favorite seed food of LeConte's. I like the color on them too. Regardless, thanks for the critiques.

 

[jeffnles1]

I don't have any problem with your edits. I will say the first one is the "as is" photo and we all know nature can be messy. The wildlife doesn't pose for our images and we take what we get. I see what you're talking about with the leaf but on the other hand, that leaf was there and is part of the environment where this cute little bird lives. Someone above said it all depends on what you're trying to depict. If it is a portrait of the bird then your later edits but if it is showing the bird where it really lives, then the first image.

Hope this helps. It's just my opinion. Honestly, the only opinion that counts is yours. which do you like best?

Jeff