Now that it's over I can admit that I got a bit lazy.

[AndyS]

I once cautioned Gaeto Matedo that one of his pics had more than one catchlight in the eye and how important catchlights are.

Then I posted a contest entry without catchlights

I went back and added the sparkle that a light in the eye can bring:

Without:


With:


Whatcha' think?

[hlthe2b]

1. Awww. I like seeing their shiny little eyes looking up

[grumpyduck]

2. I dunno, looking at both together,

the one without the catchlights looks creepy.

[Phoenix61]

3. I couldn't tell what the first one even was.

Once I saw their shiny little eyes I could tell they were baby birds.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Well, in my not-so-humble opinion, I think you were rather busy lately--NOT lazy!

But that's just me.

It is remarkable how much difference those little catchlights make.

[people]

5. Beautiful!

What kind of birds are they?

[AndyS]

6. They are Carolina Wrens.

A very people friendly little bird. They will nest in your hanging baskets and more or less ignore you once they know you. The last nesting was a dozen feet from my pillow! We formed a symbiotic relationship, every time the adults sensed a threat they'd raise a ruckus right outside my window so I'd shoo away whatever was bothering them.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

7. I hadn't thought about it.

I'm a big believer in catch lights too. (That's why I hate ring lights, but I digress).

That is such a great photo that I never thought to look for them. It looks great either way. Now that you pointed them out I'm not sure they look natural.

Still an amazing picture though.

[George McGovern]

8. Andy - Your original photograph looks better without catchlights, to my humble old eyes.

Catchlights can be a challenge to place correctly, to look natural. I've tried and never have got it right.

Or maybe it's that I got so used to looking at your original my humble old mind accepted it as the find photo it is and has not adjusted to your revision . . .

George