Merlinby
EnlightenedComment by HarveyG: Yep, wild bird photography is an art.
1. You got him, even if it's for later ID. Very important for record keeping and range data as more and more birds are under threat of dissapearing environment, encroachment, pollution.
2. You got enough detail where such a bright sky usually fools the meter into under exposing to get a blue sky.
3. For me the catch-light isn't imperative but has become to be in the past few years. It is certainly pretty and does make the image appear more "professional" however I can generally tell it's fake, or at least from the angle of the light and shadows. It is also very difficult to PS it in. If the sun isn't falling on the birds chest or from behind the photographer it is invariably fake and I vote that image down. As a wild bird tog I am a purist :)
4. Kudo's for using a lens not intended for against the light, wildlife work and more suited to macro, portrait and getting the shot.
5. I like the animals environment included in shots. Whilst I strive to get 'smooth studio-like backgrounds' in much of my wildlife work, I still enjoy seeing it in the wild with branches, grass etc.
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