Western Tanager

Gallery: AvianPosted February 7, 2010208 views19 comments

We finally got some nice weather here yesterday but no birds so went for a bike ride and then dug back into the archives for something to post. Lately I've seen a number of firsts posted so I thought I'd do one too.

This Western Tanager male showed up at a perch at Cabin Lake to indulge in a little water. It was the first time time I'd seen one of these colorful little guys and I just went nuts shooting. Unfortunately the light was very harsh: bright sun, very contrasty and around mid day, 12:36 according tho my EXIF data. Fortunately I did shoot RAW and hung on to some of the files. My original processing was awful with screaming yellows, blown reds and blocked blacks: the results were never seen by anyone but me and rightly so! Today I though I'd try again and think I've done a little better as my PS post processing skills have improved somewhat.

Thanks for looking.

1D2, 100-400 @ 400, 1/1000 @ f9, ISO 400. Cropped both sides bit for the squarer format. Darkened the BG, controlled the color saturation and completely extirpated one very offensive dust bunny. (Take that you wascally wabbit!)

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 7, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Excellent processing, Ed. The only clue I would have had to the harsh light is the highlight on top of the head. I've seen one or two of these, but never had a photo-op with one. A wonderful pose and gorgeous perch really top this one off.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 7, 2010 at 11:37 AM

Ed, this is a great image IMO. The colors and blacks look pretty good to me. One great thing about bright conditions you can shoot to the right to get the details in the blacks and then bring the exposure down a bit to get the brighter areas back in line without losing the darks. I do it all the time as it is much better to bring the exposure down than to try and bring it up. The bird, perch, and bg are great. I like the sharpness and DOF too. Well done.

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

Comment posted by dan elster on February 7, 2010 at 12:36 PM

Cabin lake is so far from anything, it's tough to get there for sweet morning light or stay late for that matter. This is beautifully processed.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Cunliffe on February 7, 2010 at 12:40 PM

Great capture and great processing; and I like the squarish crop

Registered on May 25, 2009, 62 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on February 7, 2010 at 12:52 PM

Must appreciate your PP work...the image looks great considering the unfavorable field condition...details are retained in black area of bird's plumage and don't see any highlight clipping either....Thanks for sharing...

Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Weaver on February 7, 2010 at 1:33 PM

Considering the light you had to work with this looks pretty darn good! I like the curve of the perch.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 226 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 7, 2010 at 1:49 PM

Ed: Nice bird in a nice setting. The reds still feel a bit to over saturated, yellows look great.

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

Comment posted by Buck Ward on February 7, 2010 at 3:45 PM

The hard light and high angle of the sun are there to see, but really not so bad. The bird is gorgeous. The perch and the background are quite nice. I think you did a great job.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on February 7, 2010 at 6:03 PM

Another great file shot, Ed. Keep 'em coming! Is this the same bird Steele posted some time ago?

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

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 7, 2010 at 6:07 PM

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Hans, I don't think this bird is one Bob photographed but of course there's no way to know for sure. As I recall Bob did most of his bird photos in southern California and this was taken in OR.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 7, 2010 at 7:40 PM

Very sweet, my friend! This is beautifully done - and, you did not show me any earlier pictures! Hans, Bob's bird was from Southern California.

I have seen them in Squamish and Whistler, so I am hoping to get better pictures this year.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 7, 2010 at 10:32 PM

Thank God for Raw. has saved me many images as well. Theres nothing like that "first" shooting session. The excitement is immense and I know how you felt. I like this image alot and think you did great with the post processing

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 7, 2010 at 11:50 PM

Great head turn and nice job with the processing in that difficult light Ed.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 8, 2010 at 12:44 AM

He's very centered, but the great serpentine perch makes it work. I like the almost waxy sheen on the feathers too. Really neat pose and great eye contact.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 8, 2010 at 8:04 AM

Really a lovely bird Ed, and the perch is great too.

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 8, 2010 at 10:12 AM

I love the perch here Ed, beautiful bird and good work on the PP.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 8, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Great bird on a attractive perch. Sweet One Ed!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Ravee Wattanatanak on February 9, 2010 at 3:05 AM

Very nice color bird.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 105 Posts, 786 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 9, 2010 at 12:50 PM

Ed:
I'm way behind on making comments. It's an awesome shot. I've never seen a Western Tanager. On my list now.

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