Bird

[Birdland]

I kind of like this shot. I think that the branches are good, because they frame the bird, but they also seem a bit distracting. What do you guys think?

[Peach]

Awwwwwwwwwww that is so cute!

I like this picture a lot - I don't find those branches distracting because, like you said, they frame the picture Great shot!

[curtiswheat]

Very nice shot. The framing makes me feel like im peeking through the tree, and seeing this for myself.

[clockdoc]

I would guess what is distracting is the mass or weight of the branches in that they tend to overpower the bird. Lots of heavy tones surround the bird compounded by the bright splash of light on the right. It is a nice capture but needs a little 'levels' work and perhaps some cropping on the right side.

[jyennie]

i like this picture! good dof..and except for the bright spot on the right side thats already been mentioned i like the overall composition as well. nice shot.

[pgaiger]

Very nice! I love it.

Pete

[aetnajojo]

Quoting Vincent Versace:

"As an optical device, the human eye scans a scene in a predictable sequence. It first goes to patterns it recognizes, then moves from areas of light to dark, high contrast to low contrast, high sharpness to low sharpness, in focus to blur (which is different from high to low sharpness), and high saturation to low saturation of color."

"In order to make the viewer's eye move across the image in a way that you decide it should, so that the image can be seen in the same way you did, you must manipulate the light and dark areas, their contrast, their sharpness, their degree of focus or blur, and their saturation."

(Vincent Versace is a recipient of the Computerworld Smithsonian Award in Media Arts & Entertainment and the Shellenberg fine art award and is a two-time nominee to the Photoshop Hall of Fame. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History.)

Using Versace's insight above as a guide to assess the image, then the area for enhancement appears to the white area on the right side that appears to be brighter than the main subject:



The easiest strategy to enhance the image is to crop the right side where the bright white area is.

If you prefer not to crop, then another strategy would be to use a spotlight (Under Filter->Render->Lighting Effects) to focus on the bird, thereby shifting brightness from the right side to the bird:

[Birdland]

Thank you so much to everyone who replied and gave advice. I really appreciate it!

[phlyersphan]

Love the tufted titmouse! I wish we had them around here They're adorable - and great shot! I like the branches as a frame.