Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Decades ago, I read about one of Playboy's most famous photographers favorite posing techniques during Playboys heyday, that often made his images far more popular with worldwide photographers, as opposed to the other photographers at Playboy. I was surprised to learn that he favored posing his models diagonally and keeping his images simple. Considering the attached image of a European Starling I recently took in my back yard, I would appreciate the excellent photographers on UHH sharing their thoughts on whether my choosing a diagonal positioning of my subject or the simplicity of the attached image are most important, or are there other elements of composition in this image that you would personally place ahead of diagonal composition and simplicity? Thank you in advance. Shooter41

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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Placing the center of interest in the middle of the image. I would have put it at one of the intersections of the rule of thirds.

wham121736 Loc: Long Island, New York

But then the subject would be much smaller. The other “rule” correctly applied here is “fill the frame”!
You might also consider putting the eye in the 1/3 down. 1/3 in spot.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

For years photographers have been grouped among those that follow the rules and those that do not. I tend to follow the rules, something that comes automatically to my mind from years of shooting.
I am no expert in composition but oblique lines add movement to an image and those images, like yours, are considered very well composed.

I do not consider this image to be dead center but there is also a place for centered images. If we look at an image and our eyes are comfortable looking at the image I would say that should be good enough. Using an image for competitions is a totally different story and even so many times I am surprised at the way judges pick a first place among thousands of entries. I have seen to pick images for a first prize that I never was able to understand how such image was selected but that is not what you want to know.

This image looks fine to me.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Dear wham121736...Thank you for noting the rule "Fill the frame" which applies and I did consider including more grass behind and to the left of the bird to place his eye in the 1/3 X 1/3 upper left portion of the image when I cropped. But that would have made the bird smaller and would simply add uninteresting grass to the image and make it too simple. Thank you for your time and helpful comments causing me to reconsider my choices when cropping. Shooter41

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Dear camerapapi...Thank you for your kind words about oblique lines and for observing that my subject was not at dead center. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Shooter41

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Dear billnikon...Thank you for your thought-provoking suggestion.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

To me the point of interest is the eye and that's closer to a 3rds arrangement than a centered feeling.

relbugman Loc: MD/FL/CA/SC

I think this may be the least important comment, but you have a Common Grackle, or Bronzed Grackle (subsp.), not a Starling - yellow eyes and a much longer tail among several other differences. I used to judge at several photo clubs, not for my photographic erudition but because I am a fair naturalist and put 'story-telling' at the top on my checklist, and would often add comments on the natural history of the subject - something different than the usual judge (sometimes getting the comments C'papi mentioned above ... 'How did you pick THAT???'). I was invited back to 3 of them over several years, until I left the area. In reaction, the iridescence is nicely shown, and as a portrait, this is excellent. Otherwise, I feel the bird is cramped at the top and left, and feel that in many cases the 'comfort' aspect is more important than the perfect technical photo 'rules'; but in this case, I agree with Wham, perhaps slightly less than 1/3s. The eye is very often the most important focal point and needs some space for 'comfort', a 'gut feeling', and the front of a subject usually needs some space to feel natural.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Dear Don, the 2nd son...Thank you for pointing out that the point of interest is the eye and the eye is closer to a 3rds arrangement than a centered feeling. Please compare the composition of the two attached images and comment on which of the two similar images you prefer. (The one with the eye closer to a "1/3's rule" composition, or my original "fill the picture with the subject" offering. Thank you for your time and excellent comments. Shooter41

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imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

.......it is a GREAT shot......thanks for sharing

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Dear relbugman...Thank you for your MOST IMPORTANT COMMENT, where you helped me by pointing out that my image is of a Common Grackle. I have a lifetime of experience with photography and writing but I am uneducated about bird species, so I am wide open to corrections so that I can get better in that area where I am weak. My next bird portrait will allow more space in front of the bird for viewers comfort, due to your helpful suggestion. I admire your knowledge as a naturalist, editing and storytelling abilities. You can check out my story telling abilities on Amazon.com where you can read the first four chapters of my memoir for free. Would you mind sharing your opinion on which of the two Common Grackle images you prefer? ("Laddie: My Four-Legged Protector) Shooter41

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Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Dear imagemeister...Thank you for your kind words. Shooter41

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Great shot. There's room on the left what more does it need?

Latsok Loc: Recently moved to Washington State.

I like it just the way it is! Yes, there are rules, and yes they do make sense; but sometimes, individuality and something a bit different from all other compositions really hits the spot. Beauty is in eye of the beholder. I love the sharpness and clarity and filling the frame did the job! Nice 👍.