Schmoo

Gallery: AvianPosted August 8, 2009549 views25 comments

Well, actually a juvenile American Goldfinch, but that's what it reminded my wife of.

40D, 500mm + 1.4TC, black widow on gitzo legs, f10, 1/200, iso 400, Av mode with -1/3 compensation. Noise reduction using Neat image, processed in CS4, about 25% of full frame to avoid the rest of the messy twigs around the bird. Cloned over a small oof branch in front of the bird. Taken August 5th at 7:41 p.m.

Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 8, 2009 at 1:09 AM

Hi Dennis, The fluffed up appearance is very appealing. The noise reduction worked well without any seeming loss of detail.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 8, 2009 at 3:56 AM

Lovely detail and framing Dennis

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 8, 2009 at 5:07 AM

Dennis, this is excellent - great pose, perfectly framed by the branches, nice eye, and good saturation.

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on August 8, 2009 at 5:55 AM

Simply gorgeous!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 8, 2009 at 10:40 AM

Excellent image, Dennis. This one looks like a king, complete with throne and scepter!

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 8, 2009 at 10:43 AM

A very fine image Dennis. I particularly like the composition and framing but the detail and catchlight on the bird are also excellent. I've never seen even a photograph of one of these before. I'm enjoying it.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on August 8, 2009 at 10:52 AM

Good image, Dennis. I like the two branches framing the bird.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on August 8, 2009 at 12:56 PM

The colors are so warm and pleasing. Nice perch too.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Clark on August 8, 2009 at 2:16 PM

I really like this shot as others obviously do. Only because this is a critique section, I'll offer the following; this is a nice breaking of the rule of thirds but it works very well. If the eye was a touch higher in the frame and shifted a bit to the right it would have followed the rule of thirds as I understand it. You many play with that or not, because this is an excellent shot and I really like it!

Registered on August 7, 2009, 4 Posts, 5 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on August 8, 2009 at 3:01 PM

I really like this one. I like the branches on both sides and in this instance like the tight crop.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 8, 2009 at 8:25 PM

Dennis

I remember Shmoos (guess I am showing my age??) and this does remind me of one.

Love the fluffy pose, the framing and the great look at the eye.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on August 9, 2009 at 2:27 AM

well done! The warm light puts this one over the top

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on August 9, 2009 at 8:12 AM

VERY NICE DENNIS, I like the head turn and the totally relaxed bird melting onto the perch. IMO, a well balanced image with the lichen covered branches on each side. Well done!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 9, 2009 at 11:55 AM

Great shot Dennis! Love the color, details, bg and how the bird is framed by the two branches. Nicely done!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on August 9, 2009 at 6:24 PM

That is a cute frame for a cute little fella. Two cuties in a row Dennis

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on August 10, 2009 at 3:59 PM

So darn cute. As I'v stated I really like in your face and up front images. This is great!

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 10, 2009 at 4:30 PM

Congrats for a well-deserved EP!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on August 10, 2009 at 5:49 PM

congrats on the EP, beautiful image with near perfect processing

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 10, 2009 at 8:01 PM

Those of us who remember schmoos and the late Al Capp have all adjusted our reading glasses to get a better view of this, Dennis. Those of you who don't remember schmoos can catch up here. Fine work, Dennis, and congratulations on the EP.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 11, 2009 at 12:11 AM

Congrats on a well-deserved EP!!

sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 11, 2009 at 10:35 AM

Thanks, everyone. And thanks for the link, Jim.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 11, 2009 at 3:25 PM

Cute, sharp and well framed.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on September 1, 2009 at 9:35 AM

Dennis:
Congrats on the well--deserved WP. I really like the warm colors and the way the subject is framed.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Karon Welter on September 8, 2009 at 12:30 PM

What an awesome shot! Beautiful colors and details.

Registered on November 10, 2008, 67 Posts, 543 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on September 14, 2009 at 9:15 AM

I really do love this image . Congrats on the EP

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments