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Red Grouse in heather
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Red Grouse in heather

by Ron McCombe

Gallery: AvianPosted December 11, 2009236 views15 comments
The picture was taken in August on the Lammermuir hills in the Scottish Borders, UK. The area is quite close to my home and I visit it frequently. I stopped on a small parking area at the edge of the heather moorland to look for red grouse.

The heather was in full bloom and looking fantastic, as I wound the window down this female grouse popped her head up and I got the picture.

I particularly like the bird in the centre of the image, the purple of the heather and the very narrow depth of field. I like the very pleasing effect of the colour and the expression of the bird.

Canon 50D Canon 300mm f2.8 lens, f4, 1/750sec, ISO 200

Comments

15 comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 11, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Well done Ron . This is an absolute beauty. Some might argue the Grouse is a little centred in the frame, but my eye went straight to the bird.
Amazingly beautiful environment. Bravo :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 11, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Ron, perfect as posted. Print it, frame it, and hang it. That is what I would do. Super image.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 11, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Great shot Ron - the sharp bird looks wonderful in a sea of pink

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Greg Cope on December 11, 2009 at 10:53 PM
THAT is a cool shot! I love everything about this, from the centered comp to the low angle to the subject(s). :toast:
Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments
Comment posted by David Williams on December 11, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Really unique and cool shot, Ron.........love it!
:toast:
Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on December 12, 2009 at 8:58 AM
One of the very few times that I've found a centred subject that works, too. You do have wonderful heather in Scotland - even those on golf courses!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 12, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I like your centered composition and how the grouse popped up in the sea of heather. DOF worked very well to isolate the grouse too.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Sally King on December 12, 2009 at 2:13 PM
It makes me think "pop goes the grouse". Love these surroundings. Would love an image of anything surrounded by these beautiful flowers. I think the selective DOF works very well here. Even though the grouse is small in the frame you have captured excellent details.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on December 12, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I agree the centred comp works well. Great depth of field, and the large version is great. :toast:
Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on December 12, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Great shot, with wonderful colours and perfect use of selective focus.

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on December 12, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Excellent as posted, Ron. I really like the colors and DOF. I bet this would look good as a print.
Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments
Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 13, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Awesome! This is superb Ron, the expression makes the shot, and the centered comp works for me here.
Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 13, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Super setting and sharp and focussed subject.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Cox-Leigh on December 13, 2009 at 11:24 PM
What an expression on that birds face! A compelling, beautiful and humourous image. :toast:
Registered on August 8, 2008, 25 Posts, 228 Comments
Comment posted by Graham Brown on December 14, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Well captured Ron, the bird is pin sharp and i think the OOF heather makes it really stand out.Lovely part of the country you live in. Graham
Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments