Red and Gray = Couple photos from my walk today.

[PhotoXopher]

 

[robertwsimpson]

it might just be me, but the second one looks way over exposed, shadow compressed, noise reduced, and massively cropped?

Small birds are a pain to photograph.

 

[bazooka]

I think the blown out background is overpowering in both of these, which really pulls the attention away from the subject.

 

[PhotoXopher]

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated!

I just have to note that the only way for the subjects to be properly exposed was to indeed blow out the background, which around here this time of year doesn't take much. The skies are about as white as the ground

 

[HikinMike]

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated!

I just have to note that the only way for the subjects to be properly exposed was to indeed blow out the background, which around here this time of year doesn't take much. The skies are about as white as the ground

You can set up a small feeding station and a stick as a 'prop'. This way you can control the lighting.