Song Sparrow

Gallery: AvianPosted January 9, 2010250 views27 comments

Yesterday we had our coldest morning so far this winter and it made for some incredible frost - everything was covered with it. While we're shooting other species these little guys are always flitting around in the weeds but we just can't get close to them before they dive down into cover. I don't think they like my red pickup...

Anyway, this bird didn't get the message and calmly ate seeds through the frost with two cameras firing away at it for several minutes. You can see frost falling by the tail from the feeding activity. The top of the beak is wet with melted frost which gave it a different look.

7D, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window, cropped to 59% of orginal image

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on January 9, 2010 at 7:03 PM

Very cool shot. I love the pose and the setting. You were in the right place to get this winner.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 9, 2010 at 7:04 PM

Spectacular shot, Ron. This bird sure looks well installed: even the branch seems to be bending to accommodate his weight. The frosty branches and bird eating in the cold really gives the image some interest as well as beauty. The background matches so well too. Fine job.

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on January 9, 2010 at 7:19 PM

This is like something out of a dream
I love the ice crystals gleaming in the light, the falling crystals, sharp feather and beak detail.
Great comp with the frost covered twigs circling the bird.
A winner!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 9, 2010 at 7:30 PM

Ron,

Before reading the description I was going to ask if you knew this guy isn't a bird of prey

A really nice change of pace from you (not that it's needed). I"m freezing just looking at this guy, and I love how the tail is pointing straight down.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 9, 2010 at 7:53 PM

A beautiful and delicate shot Ron. Very well done

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 9, 2010 at 8:06 PM

A terrific image - a fine and interesting setting, good pose, nice activity. first rate technicals.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 9, 2010 at 8:17 PM

Ron,

This image simply makes me smile, the background and the frost make it appear delicate & whimsical. Your techs are first rate, the light is lovely and I like the bits of melted frost on the sparrow's bill a lot. I especially like the falling frost and the fluffed out way the sparrow is perched on the vegetation.

A wonderfully appealing image as posted.

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

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on January 9, 2010 at 10:00 PM

This is simply wonderful. It is a nice combination of an avian image with macro details. The frost on the perch is awesome. Congrats!

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 9, 2010 at 11:47 PM

A very appealing image here with the fluffed up pose in a magical frosty setting. Love it. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 10, 2010 at 8:50 AM

This is so delicate! Wonderful!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 10, 2010 at 9:13 AM

Lovely photo. I'm impressed with the detail in the frost visible on the larger image.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 10, 2010 at 9:20 AM

I like this very much. Great pose, lovely perch. Frost really makes this special. Details held up really well for a crop of this size. Love it.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 10, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Ron,
perfect in every aspect. Superb image!!

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmie Fata on January 10, 2010 at 11:33 AM

What a gorgeous shot Ron.

Registered on December 27, 2009, 14 Posts, 55 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on January 10, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Oh, that is breathtakingly beautiful!

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on January 10, 2010 at 3:18 PM

Great shot, with perfect details and BG.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 10, 2010 at 4:06 PM

Excellent capture in habitat, Ron. Good work getting the bird and the frost crystals so sharp.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 10, 2010 at 6:55 PM

Late to this Ron. Not much to add except that I agree. This is a wonderful image. The frost on the perch and the BG really make this for me. Very well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 10, 2010 at 8:58 PM

This is awesome Ron. That pose is great and the ice crystals on the branch are really special. Excellent lighting and very nice job with the composition.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 10, 2010 at 9:31 PM

OMG Ron is that the sweetest thing? You hit it perfectly!

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

Comment posted by Danny Shelton on January 10, 2010 at 10:20 PM

Nice!

Registered on October 2, 2007, 14 Posts, 1029 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 11, 2010 at 5:07 AM

Awesome

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 11, 2010 at 8:53 AM

Poor little guy. At least he had some food. Nicely composed Ron and the frost adds to this one

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 11, 2010 at 10:02 AM

Sweet image, Ron. The frost is wonderful.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 11, 2010 at 11:41 PM

This is a very beautiful photo Ron. He looks like a Christmas decoration on that thin branch. I like the composition a lot as well.

(I saw a guy here in town with temporary stick-on camo applied to the side of his truck, just sayin....)

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 12, 2010 at 12:10 AM

Very cool, Ron

The little ice crystals are fantastic. I like the balance of the composition with the subject sitting in just the right place. Quite a unique image.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by István Molnár on January 17, 2010 at 10:09 AM

Nice technicals as well.

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments