The Guira Cuckoos. . .

[gahspidy]

I'm feeling the lighting is flat in this and there is not a whole lot i can do about it. Taken at the Bronx Zoo, indoor environment, dull lighting. does the moment here save this image? I cropped out a branch that was behind the head of the bird on the left. Some black& white point adjustment and slight crop. What dou ya think?

[kerriann85]

Ok, here's my first attempt at a forum critique.... I like the birdies. I don't much care for that blurry stick in the forground. I cropped it square to bring the little guys right into my face so I could better listen in to what the two were saying behind the third one's back. (Hmmm, centering the subject....that goes again the "rule" I suppose.)
I also tried a little unsharp mask (which I'm just starting to figure out how to use) Don't know if it's too much, but I think it pops their faces a bit.
I love zoo photography. Fun isn't it?!

[Clicker]

I like these little guys, i feel the Blurry Limb is fine, especially in photographs like this. They have that look of just having gotten out of the shower, fresh and ready to take on the world. Also, I like the looser crop, because it gives me room to wander around them and see what their surroundings are. IMO, the tighter crop seems to make the limb above the center bird more prominent and distracting.... while not so in the first off-center crop. If you were going to crop, I would go in between these two crops. my .02!

[shesells]

The shot's great. Those guys are close up and in your face. I especially love the backgound color that goes so well with their brown outfits. The blurry branch..uh.. a bit distracting and you don't really need it for the composition. If you can remove it in a precise way, then it would improve the shot, if not, no biggie. As for the branch in the back of the middle bird. It would be better if the v wasn't right over his head, but it's fine because the branch continues on. Truthfully, I didn't even notice it till I read the other critiques. Does that little bit of green leaves near the bottom bother you? I'm not sure. If you feel it's a little flat, a tiny bit of usm will fix it. I don't see it as flat, but needs a bit sharpening. When you see birds so close as this, it makes it clear that they have personalities and aren't all alike. This would make a beautiful print.
Kit

[gahspidy]

Thanks for all your comments. I do have a touch of USM on already, but could use a bit more. Did not want to overdo it. I like these birds alot. Everytime i go back to the Zoo, they move them to another area. Not sure why. I'll have to ask them I had to act fast when I got this shot as they were starting to fly off. There were 4 there, and one had just flew off which is what the other one was looking at. So I grabbed this shot right away before I could set up as I would have liked.( A bird in hand is better than two in the bush! ) Then after getting off the first shot, i was setting up a better shot and they flew off towrds the other side in the back. Thanks again for the feedback

[Clicker]

Thanks for all your comments. I do have a touch of USM on already, but could use a bit more. Did not want to overdo it. I like these birds alot. Everytime i go back to the Zoo, they move them to another area. Not sure why. I'll have to ask them I had to act fast when I got this shot as they were starting to fly off. There were 4 there, and one had just flew off which is what the other one was looking at. So I grabbed this shot right away before I could set up as I would have liked.( A bird in hand is better than two in the bush! ) Then after getting off the first shot, i was setting up a better shot and they flew off towrds the other side in the back. Thanks again for the feedback

I came back to look at your photo again, I really do like it. My friend and I were having a discussion about out of focus objects in the foreground, and I took a few last week, just got them back last night, and I think that in some instances it can work and be of interest, like your shot above. The limbs make a triangle within the print, and my eye just travels the triangle, It makes the limbs become just as important as the birds. I also like the object out of focus in the background, looks like a dead palm tree leaf, it probably isn't : ) but it reminds me of one.... Anyway, I like it!

[Elysian]

It's a really nice shot, but I consider the branch closest to the lens quite distracting.

[cjsoap]

You centainly have a way with the birds. These are so cute. As I have seen with the others you have posted, this shot is no exception. The surroundings feel very natural to me, therefore I'm not distracted or bothered. I find it very pleasing.
CJ

[Irish]

Hello Gary

Really like this shot and others you have posted of these rather unsual looking birds. The branch in the foreground is neither here or there for me but I would rather not see the leaves to the rear of the bird to the left of the image. There is always a great deal of discussion about what should and should not be in focus and the bokeh this creates in various images. Each to their own.

I played in CS (just learning) - adjusting highlights and shadows - upped the contrast - USM - seems a little brighter but not sure if this is what you mean by "too much"

[Irish]

This time it worked - had to resize the image - notice some degradation of the image etc.

[gahspidy]

Thanks again all for the feedback. Once again this has been a helpful thread for me.
Irish, as you said, the pic is starting to degrade.. Too much mask. Ultimately I think I needed to be zoomed in closer and a bit sharper on the snap. thasnks for the help.
SheSells,Clicker. . .glad you liked the image. Even with it's faults, I like it as well. These birds as well as others really do have amazing personalities as I am learning by trying to catch them on film.
Elysian, thanks for looking. funny thing is I was thinking the lighting was flat and never really gave much thought to the branch in the foreground. But as you and others pointed out, it is more a factor than the flat lighting is.
Kerriann85, yes, Zoo photography is fun. I am planning on going again this fall without the kids . I love taking the kids there but what a distraction when trying to shoot some serious shots. Looking through the viewfinder with one eye and watching that my son is not climbing into the polar bear habitat with the other eye!!