bird photography what do you perfer

Hello guys,

i am well into wildlife and photography and take many pictures of the birds that vist my garde from the  hide i have, however i have been told that a intresting background where there is branchs and twigs of the tree in focus is to distracting when looking at my pictures and a burry background is better...

i would like some feedback regards this and have put two images into my gallery of a blue tit ( both pics show the same bird ) one is cropped and i have burried the backgound a bit using photoshop.

the other is the same bird and shot uncropped without any burring ( please note its not cropped to same as the other but is same picture)...

so which would you like best... any feedback will be greatly appreciated

Kestrel....

dont just look enjoy and leave for others to share after you. we dont own the earth we just rent a small part of it....

  • I couldn't agree more that it is your own choice as to how you present your own photos. They should be to your liking, and personal to you, no matter what others may think. However, you posed the question and I presume you want answers from us..

    I am not a photographer, amateur or otherwise. Purely as a critique of a photo of a bird, and not a critique of a piece of photographic art, I personally prefer the unblurred version. But what do I know!!!

    Cheers, Linda.

    See my photos on Flickr

  • I'm with the rest on this one - its really what works for YOU.  Only worry about others opinions if they're paying your bill!

    Sometimes I like a plain featureless background to take the eye straight in to the subject, and sometimes its the background that gives context and makes the picture more than just a record for me.  

    Laurence

     

  • Hi Derek, I agree with everyone else that it is what you prefer that really counts. I set my camera to spot focus which means that almost everything bar the subject matter is blurred. This can be useful if there is something between you and the bird (like a thin blade of grass etc.) as the camera will blur it out of the picture. It does mean you have a slight debate with the camera as it will focus on the object in front first but it is easily overcome by moving the camera slightly to one side which puts the "offending object" off-centre. Then the camera will focus on the bird. 

    The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.

    The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!

  •  

    Hi,

     

    I actually like the original uncropped large version best because the BT sits nicely framed in there :)

    The BT image is slightly soft IMHO and so doesnt work as well when blown right up :)

     

    S

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