Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

This is my first request for critique here on photo.net.

Please let me know what you think of this photo. What could I improve?

Hello. I would try different crops with this...I would try to crop the bird in the background somehow..the bird in the right edge is well focussed and the eyes are sharp, but my eyes start to wander towards the background bird too much.

I like it. Shows some personality! Good exposure, the background is, except for the other bird, properly blurred. As to the other bird: it adds to the photo's enjoyment for me though many may instead prefer a shot with all birds being in focus. It also looks like you got down to their level, which was a good choice.

Hi Irene and welcom to the critique request forum! I have to agree with the first comment that the bird in the background detracts for me. Viewed larger the bird in focus is terrific. I'm not sure what the original was like and if you could have cropped the blurred bird out without ruining the image. It certainly is interesting though. Look forward to seeing more of your images. Regards Louise

Thank you for your comments!

This is the original photo, nothing is cropped. I checked the other photo's I made of these jackdaws again just now. I also have picture where there is only one bird in it, but because the background doesn't have a lot of colour, those picuters were rather dull (in my opinion). I liked the idea of having the bird in front "shadowed". 

The previous posters have alluded to the "likes and dislikes" of the second bird in the image. For me it is also a distraction, inspite of the crispness of the prominent subject.

You mention that your other images have rather bland backgrounds, but this is not a bad thing....... it sometimes helps towards the subject "popping" onto the screen.

This Raven is captured beautifully. Good lighting and plumage definition with lovely eyes.... attributes that I have tried to emphasise with my tight crop.

Well done..............

Regards