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Variety can be the spice of life and this really does apply to nature photography. The image above is a nice example of finding a pretty subject, a good perch and a wonderful background. Most bird photographers strive for an image that has these qualities, but is this type of image all that has any merit?
Composition
Many times we hear the rule that subjects shouldn't be placed in the center of the image, but in some cases it works as I think it does in this image. By placing the perch at an angle the centered position no longer is a problem and it leads the eye right to the subject. Also, the plain background would be overwhelming if the there were "dead" or "unused" space on either side of the Mockingbird.
Techniques
The perch is parallel with the plane of the camera so depth of field allows the entire perch to be in focus. However, a little more depth of field would have been better as the tail is out of focus. By adjusting the aperture to a smaller opening I could have had more depth of field and the tail would have been in focus.
Style
This image is an example of what I call a sterile type image. These images can be quite beautiful as well as artistic. Some photographers fall in love with this type of photography to the point that they neglect other opportunities. They neglect to capture subjects in their habitat which actually help to educate the viewer as to where the subject lives, how it lives and often times how it interacts with the world it lives in.
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