Help me decide

[tevo]

I took a few bird shots today, and the bird conveniently flew to a few different locations. However, I don't have an eye for good animal poses / expressions, so any opinions / suggestions on which ones are better would be greatly appreciated.

#1

Bird by theofficialtevo, on Flickr

#2 Does the black & white conversion work with this one?

Bird by theofficialtevo, on Flickr

HELP ME DECIDE:

This

Bird by theofficialtevo, on Flickr

or this?

Bird by theofficialtevo, on Flickr



And then a second location.
This

Bird by theofficialtevo, on Flickr

or this?

Bird by theofficialtevo, on Flickr

 

[Rafterman]

For me personally, I prefer the bird to fill lots of the frame, but that's just my own preference. I do like #1 though. In #2, I'm not a fan of the B&W and the bird is facing the wrong way. Preferably, you'd have the subject looking towards the open space.

In the first comparison, #1. In the second comparison, #2.

 

[tevo]

For me personally, I prefer the bird to fill lots of the frame, but that's just my own preference. I do like #1 though. In #2, I'm not a fan of the B&W and the bird is facing the wrong way. Preferably, you'd have the subject looking towards the open space.

In the first comparison, #1. In the second comparison, #2.

If it were a bigger bird, I would have filled more of the frame with it. However, I wanted to show the relative size of this tiny bird to its environment, so I didn't crop in super tightly. You're right on the B&W, it is facing the wrong way, I'll adjust the crop and see how it looks. Thank you for your reply!

 

[TATTRAT]

I like #1, with the gumball. Nice DOF, the colors all lend well to the bird and it shows more "nature". The rest are all kind of the same, #1 just suits my likes better.

 

[coastalconn]

Just my humble opinion, I'm not a fan of #1 because the bird is looking the wrong way, sorta cropped to the wrong side, I like to leave room where the bird is looking. I like #2, but not in B&W, and maybe crop a little of the bottom off. Of the next 2 I like the first 1 with the tighter crop. I always sort of like the bird looking over the shoulder. Of the last 2 I like the second one better because of the head angle... Nice job.

 

[desmondlewissmith]

I like # 1, but I'd tell the bird to raise his beak as the shadow makes him look fat.

 

[bc_steve]

or this?

Bird by theofficialtevo, on Flickr

I like this one the best because I like the tree the bird is sitting in. The bottom third of the frame though is less interesting to me and maybe it would look better if that was cropped away?

 

[HL45]

Of the sets of 2 I like the second shot better!

 

[cgipson1]

I prefer #1, but think it is too wide... how about:

 

[Baddi89]

I like #2 but I'm not a big fan of the BW though, would be better in color I think.. #1 is also fantastic but you should try cropping it a little tighter and leave the bird on the left side of the frame, as he is looking to the right.. Just my opinion, hope it helps

 

[tevo]

I prefer #1, but think it is too wide... how about:

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=39474"/>

I like this crop! Definitely something I'll keep in mind next time I shoot.

 

[tevo]

I like #2 but I'm not a big fan of the BW though, would be better in color I think.. #1 is also fantastic but you should try cropping it a little tighter and leave the bird on the left side of the frame, as he is looking to the right.. Just my opinion, hope it helps

I tried that one in B&W because it was the same exact colorway as the others in the set, besides I like the look of B&W personally. I also agree on the first, I particularly liked the contents of the background but I didn't have any shots of the bird looking into the open space, which would have been ideal.

 

[Red_John]

I usually don't like B&W photos, but I like this one and in my opinion its the best

 

[kundalini]

Birds are like flowers, in that unless it is an outstanding example, B&W (usually) doesn't cut the mustard. Also, crop the hell out of it to fill the frame.