Thrasher at the gate!

[jamn4ex]

Is the gate a shot killer?

[Plumcrak]

James, in my un-educated, non-professional, sub-amatuer opinion...the ornamental piece on top of the gate is very distracting. Other than that I think it would be a very nice capture.

[JohnnyG]

Clone whatever bothers you, out.

[botspur]

Hi James, unfortunately for me that piece of gate ruins a very good image.

[jeeperman]

The gate is a bummer. However this is still a good shot and a keeper, especially until you better it. Had the gate not blocked his tale this good shot would be an excellent shot. Well done James and keep at it!

[dan marchant]

I don't think it is a keeper. It's a lovely shot ruined by an obstruction. Unfortunately these things happen.

[rtbaum]

It may be my own warped sense of reality, but I think the gate adds a sense of place and scale, thus should be kept. My eye does not linger on the fence, it goes immediately to the detail of the bird. I would be quite pleased with this shot.

[Geoff F]

I suppose an alternative would be to crop out the left hand part of the gate so the bird's tail is out of the frame. Which would probably work out somewhere around 4 x 5 ratio.