The Rook

Here's a shot of a Rook looking lonesome whilst pecking at a fishing

net on the docks in Galway, Ireland. All comments and critiques very

welcome. Cheers.

This image says something to me, it tells me a story which makes me want to look at it.

The way that the bird is captured and its profile enhance the image. While usually not being able to make eye contact with the bird would distract me in this image it works for some reason. The feathers give the bird a nice pleasing texture to look at, especially in black and white. the few ruffled feathers on the back are also eye pleasing.

The timing of this shot is well. It says alot more to me this bird being ready to peck than if it were actually doing it.

The texture of the net and the blurred background also add much for me.

The only thing that I would probably change is try to get the bird completely in the photo. It doesn't really bother me when looking at the image but I do notice it.

While the DOF totally works here I would have tried stopping down slightly to see what that would have done for this photo.

This is a nice image that I enjoy looking at.

Thanks a lot for the insightful critique, I'm glad that you enjoyed my image.  I'd also have liked to get the whole bird into the frame, but you gotta make do with what you get  I guess.  I also think the posture of the bird is what makes the picture interesting, there seems to be something forlorn about it.  I suppose that's what you call anthropomorphism.