Western Meadowlark

[MontanaDave]

Western Meadowlark from yesterday morning here in Montana.

What was the goal?
I am trying to portray the first meadowlark of spring singing his heart out.

Did I achieve my goal?
I framed the barbed wire so there is some depth to the photo, along with enough grass in the background to add depth.
There are no bright patches or distractions in the background and the background color also tells the story of early spring with no green up.
Pastures will not green up for at least another month.

If I could, what would I change?
I would position myself to the right to add more depth with the barbed wire more front to back in the photo.
Unfortunately, the meadowlark flew on soon after the photo.

What critique am I looking for?
Any constructive suggestions.
For example, does the crop work? Too much negative space? To tight a crop?

Details: Canon R5 with RF 100-800mm lens.
Meadowlarks are spooky, so I took the photos at 800mm.
Shutter speed was set at 1/1250sec because they move quickly.
F/10 to maximize depth of field with the background hundreds of meters away (except for a few grass blades)
ISO-3200 so I used ON1 Photo Raw 2025 to denoise, crop, and adjust exposure.
I changed the 3/2 format to a square crop, otherwise full frame.

 

[smoke665]

View attachment 284220
Western Meadowlark from yesterday morning here in Montana.
Details: Canon R5 with RF 100-800mm lens.
Meadowlarks are spooky, so I took the photos at 800mm.
Shutter speed was set at 1/1250sec because they move quickly.
F/10 to maximize depth of field with the background hundreds of meters away (except for a few grass blades)
ISO-3200 so I used ON1 Photo Raw 2025 to denoise, crop, and adjust exposure.
I changed the 3/2 format to a square crop, otherwise full frame.

Thank you for posting in the C&C, however please consider this not a display gallery. I refer to #2 in the guidelines "In a sentence or two, please let us know what you were trying to achieve with your shot. Letting us know why you took the shot helps us understand your creative thought process, which will inform how someone might respond". Please either edit your post to conform. Posts not conforming will be deleted or moved to another gallery.

For those replying to this post, I also refer you to the guidelines. Trivial non compliance post will be deleted.

 

[smoke665]

This is the final warning!!!! Trivial posts that do not comply with forum guidelines will be deleted. Continued failure to follow the guidelines will result in the post being deleted or locked!

 

[MontanaDave]

Edited the post :
I am trying to portray the first meadowlark of spring singing his heart out.
I framed the barbed wire so there is some depth to the photo, along with enough grass in the background to add depth.

 

[terri]

Edited the post :
I am trying to portray the first meadowlark of spring singing his heart out.
I framed the barbed wire so there is some depth to the photo, along with enough grass in the background to add depth.

Are you satisfied with the composition?

Do you think you achieved your goal?

 

[smoke665]

Edited the post :
I am trying to portray the first meadowlark of spring singing his heart out.
I framed the barbed wire so there is some depth to the photo, along with enough grass in the background to add depth.

See your other post to get an idea of what to include with your image. Questions or concerns on the image you'd like feedback?

 

[MontanaDave]

See your other post to get an idea of what to include with your image. Questions or concerns on the image you'd like feedback?

I edited the original post:
What was the goal?
I am trying to portray the first meadowlark of spring singing his heart out.

Did I achieve my goal?
I framed the barbed wire so there is some depth to the photo, along with enough grass in the background to add depth.

If I could, what would I change?
I would position myself to the right to add more depth with the barbed wire more front to back in the photo.
Unfortunately, the meadowlark flew on soon after the photo.

What critique am I looking for?
Any constructive suggestions.
For example, does the crop work? Too much negative space? To tight a crop?

 

[PJM]

There is quite a bit of "blockiness" in the background that I find distracting. Do you know what is causing that?

 

[smoke665]

First thank you for adding updating your post.

As to your concerns/questions -
I did't really derive anything from the image that to substantiate the first status but overall it's a nice presentation. The barb wire provides a good leading line to draw the focus into the bird. However I'm somewhat put off by the blade of grass to the left. IMO there's to much competition, drawing focus away from the bird.

The bokeh produced by every lens varies, in this case like the above comment mentioned it's blocky quality is distracting. Whether this was a result of the lens, exposure, or something done post, it needs some work.

As to crop, space/frame management isn't bad. I might try a few tweaks, or leave it as is, not sure you'd have much gain for effort.

 

[KJ_North]

Its the background that ruins it for me. Its streaky, blotchy etc. It takes my eye off of the bird