This is a much improved photo I think, just on the white balance alone. I don't mind the composition either, though it might be better if made centered and symmetrical. Some people like asymmetry, and it works well in a lot of cases, but that doesn't mean every photo has to be asymmetrical or obey some crazy rule of thirds.


This is going to be a bit more advanced but if you have a Speedlite, you can put it off camera, bounce it off an umbrella, and fill in the shadow on the right side of the feeder. I used this technique to get a nice soft modeling on my hummingbird shots. The great thing about the 7D is that the built-in flash has master capability. However, you may need to gel your Speedlite if you do this. And yet, there's something to be said for the light/dark contrast in this image. I like that there is a directionality to the lighting, it gives a sense of the morning atmosphere along with the warm tones of the background...the overall effect is very pleasing. I also like that you did not choose to obscure the feeder.


Have you tried experimenting with how slow you can make your shutter before the subject's motion becomes blurred? I get the sense that you can lower your ISO by at least 1 full stop. I often find myself prioritizing aperture and ISO over shutter speed, although I must admit I tend to miss shots this way. But when I do hit it, I get some very nice, sharp, usable images. If only there were a way to set up the camera so that I can fix one setting (say, f-number), meter the scene, and the camera will automatically vary the shutter/ISO in quick succession; e.g., 1/100 @ ISO 100, then 1/200 @ ISO 200, then 1/400 @ ISO 400, etc., in half- or third-stop increments. Or you could pick a fixed ISO and the camera would vary the f-number and shutter speed. That would be AWESOME. Because with the way digital sensors work now, sensitivity is just as easy to adjust as f-number and shutter speed.