Here is the first snow fall shot I've captured this year

Hey Randall,

It is a very interesting photograph. I go back and forth between loving it and thinking it is too busy.

James

James
I know what you mean, this was shot with christmas greeting cards in mind, I placed the sumac and pine on the stump for color, and shot with a flash o help stop the birds.
Thanks for the comments Randall

Hey Randall,

I keep coming back to your photo trying to figure it out. As I was saying earlier, there is something intrinsically that I like about the photo. Having said that, at first I thought what was nagging me is the business of the photo. I think I am boiling it down to two items. The first is the flash. I think it is a bit too hard...was the flash on camera? I think having positioned it from a different angle may have helped. The second is the red floral on the top right of the image. It seems to be distracting from all of these really cool birds hanging out on the log.

Again though, I like the shot, and I hope that it is coming out in the conversation. :P

James

James I'll have to say you are pretty sharp to figure that out my flash was on the camera. It was really cold . I used a pocket wizard to trigger the camera and flash I'm just now reading the strobist on how to handle off camera flash its all new to me, but you being a wedding photographer you knew right away. I have only done one wedding that was a trip to Smoky Mountains, all outdoors. So many times the available light is just not enough. I'll send another shot and all the meta data to help everybody figure out what I have done. If I can get this right I think it will make a very cool shot I have already sold this many times and one guy tried to buy exclusive rights so no one else could have it lol.
Thanks randall

I forgot the meta data . I used Nikon D2x, Nikon 80/200 mm vr 2.8 lens, set at f/8, 1/250 sync/ flash, Iso 100, ev+.05, manual with auto white balance. Any suggestions and c&c would be helpful and highly appreciated. Thanks randall

The red staghorn sumac you are referring too is a local bush here that stays very colorful even up into the winter. it was purposfully addded for color in the shot. I was after a colorful background heres another shot with a red bird. What do you think better or worse .
Thanks Randall