See your point about the crop. Probably cropping is one of my primary frustrations when editing (and shooting).
I appreciate your comment about posting/commenting. It is sometimes difficult for me as I feel that many of the photographers that post here are much more skilled/talented that I am and have a higher "fuss factor". What do I have to offer to them? Will keep trying though.
James, firstly think of it as some of us are just further down the road than perhaps than you are currently, however we ALL have been where you are, so I can fully understand a bit of frustration.
Cropping/Framing your subject is that old
'chestnut' that constantly rears its head, and sadly IMHO its not something you can really teach as this is
'subjective' but also comes with time, you get a feel for what is right & wrong, but.... there are a few elements you can put in place to help yourself.
Now this is my take, some will disagree as is their will, but unless they say something else...
Firstly, look at the scene, is it a Landcape shot or a Portrait shot, you can easily tell when viewing in the EVF what works. Perhaps enabling the 3x3 grid in camera may also help and get things vertical/horizontal too. once you have decided on the format crop in camera, but allow 10-15% all round for finally options in PP for presentation. Once you get your shot, fly the format and take another series of frames, you never know until you are back home, sometimes the shot you poo pooed, turns out to be the winning capture. Fixed lens are great, what you see is what you get, but zooms are more versatile and generate more options. Give your subject in frame, space to breath, think about negative space if landscape left or right, don't sit it too tight to the foot of the frame so it looks as if its about to disappear, or its just too central.
Look at Wildlife magazines or on line at other photographers, see what you like and then as why in terms of cropping, then try and implement that in your thinking. Is the subject small in frame with lots of habitat, is it tight in, a
'detail' image of say a talon, or gorgeous iridescent plumage...
Also checkout Rule of Thirds in Educational resources and or there may be other threads related to this issue.
James keep going, as I said, unlike PP it's something that comes in time.