Cardinal looking for mate

[Old Cowgirl]

Here is one of my best bird shots. Any help for improvements is welcome

[FocalFrenzy]

It really helps to have all of your camera information for critique, but since the exposure and sharpness don't appear to be an issue, I'll critique the crop. First off, I cropped the image to conform with the rule of thirds. If you are unsure what that is, it's like putting a Tic-Tac-Toe grid on your image. Then you crop to put your subject on the upper left/right or lower left/right intersection of lines. This gives more impact than having the subject centered in the shot. I chose the upper right intersection because it allowed for some space for the bird to be looking into, as well as using the curved branches to help lead the viewers eye through the shot.
I also added a catchlight to the birds eye because to me (not everyone feels this way), it brings an image to life. Then I lightened up the front and back portions of the eyelids, to emphasize the round shape. I hope this critique was helpful, but since you didn't ask for specific help, I may be way off base. If you want my edited copy removed from this thread, message me and I'll take it down.

[Bransty]

I also added a catchlight to the birds eye because to me (not everyone feels this way), it brings an image to life. Then I lightened up the front and back portions of the eyelids, to emphasize the round shape.

How do you do that? I have just bought Photoshop and don't know what I am doing as yet. It certainly makes the bird jump, and as bird photography is why I have bought a DSLR in the first place, I have a lot of learning to do.

[FocalFrenzy]

I use GIMP (a free editing program very simular to Photoshop), because I entered this hobby on a budget. Now I'm too used to GIMP to change programs. I did get a free copy of PS Elements 5, with my camera, and I can do most of the same editing with that.
The first thing I did was to duplicate the original. That way if I don't like the direction the edit is going, I can delete the copy and start over. On the duplicate copy, I cropped to suit me, and enlarged the view to 800 %. For the catchlight, I used the clone tool, set to 2-3 pixels in width. I then selected a white spot from the snowy background of the image to be my source. I applied the catchlight in 3 single dots in a curve to emphasize the roundness of the eye. (you couldn't see any shape in the original). I kept switching between the enlarged version and the original until I was happy with the look. I think it took me 3 tries to get it right.
For the eyelids, I used the paintbrush tool, also set to 2-3 pixel width, and picked a complimentary color from the body of the cardinal, with the eyedropper. I then painted the eyelid highlights in what I felt to be their actual position. It took several tries to get this right, as well. The entire edit took less than 10 minutes (due to lots of practice), where a year ago, it would have taken me hours. I've found that since birds and animals don't always pose properly into the light, sometimes I have to edit in what doesn't show up right out of camera. I hope this helps, but I'm sure that others on here have different methods to achieve the same ends.

[Bransty]

Thanks for that. Will keep me busy over the next year to get to that level.

[windrider86]

For you next post please be sure to get familiar with the guidelines for the critique section. That way you'll know what to include. txs!