Sunrise Dance

Gallery: AvianPosted April 4, 2010298 views33 comments

This morning the sharptails again put on some display. I liked this one for the layered light and dark background and the low angle light coming in from behind and illuminating him under his wings. There is motion blur on foot and wingtips. Do you see that as a distraction?

D200, 200-400 @ 240mm, cropped a little from bottom to reduce oof area and thin proportional slices from each end. ISO 250, 1/500, F4, +0.3ev Matrix.

Please view larger size for evaluation. Critiques encouraged!

Comments

33 comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 4, 2010 at 7:05 PM

WOW Lon, that is sooo beautiful. I absolutely love the pose the colors the light the detail. It all rocks!

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

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on April 4, 2010 at 7:06 PM

Cool shot, Lon. The motion blur doesn't bother me at all. This is sharp in all the right places. I would think about adding a little to the top to give the tail a little more room, but that's pretty minor considering the entire photo. Great shot and great behavior!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on April 4, 2010 at 7:10 PM

Lon I will second what Cheryl said, It Rocks!!! Wonderful technique and colors. Very big congrats!!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 4, 2010 at 7:25 PM

That's awesome Lon, I think the blur adds here as it gives it a dramatic sense of motion, congrats.

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on April 4, 2010 at 7:25 PM

Wow, I love this. Fabulous light and the BG is wonderful. The whole image is fascinating. The motion blur is a non-issue for me.

Beautiful work!

Peter

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 4, 2010 at 7:55 PM

I like the slight blur, an enhancement not a detraction. Wonderful detail and color Lon!!!

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

Comment posted by Danny Shelton on April 4, 2010 at 8:15 PM

Outstanding!

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 4, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Top drawer, Lon! I like everything about this. A little more room at the top might help, but hardly necessary. Good as is—the bg, detail, the sense of motion and the offsetting color patches agaist the brown and white motif.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 4, 2010 at 8:19 PM

I agree, the lighting is superb. What a neat capture!

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

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on April 4, 2010 at 8:46 PM

Wow! Nice and sharp in all the right areas! great lighting and action. Well done.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on April 4, 2010 at 8:48 PM

I do not mind the motion. Great image!!

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on April 4, 2010 at 9:12 PM

Nicely sharpened and composed. Beautiful Bird

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on April 4, 2010 at 9:32 PM

Wonderful photo. Excellent display by the bird and capture by you. I like the motion that the blur accurately portrays. Nice separation of bird and background despite camo coloring of the bird. Good job.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 4, 2010 at 9:35 PM

Awesome One Lon

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on April 4, 2010 at 9:38 PM

Superb!

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 4, 2010 at 10:16 PM

Great image, Lon. The motion blur doesn't bother me a bit, especially since the clear eye draws my attention so well.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 4, 2010 at 10:27 PM

Great shot Lon - motion blur for this sort of shot adds to it imo. So too do the low perspective and lighting

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Dan Walters on April 4, 2010 at 10:33 PM

Really like the low angle and the light. Like the way some of the shadows create a little depth as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 4, 2010 at 11:14 PM

Really nice detail, Lon. I didn't even notice the slight blur until reading your comment, so I can't say it was distracting. I am distracted by what appears to be a tilted horizon (left to right), but that could be an illusion due to sloped ground and the way the shadows are falling.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 4, 2010 at 11:18 PM

Yes, Max, those are shadows on an upslope, therefore I left it as taken.

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

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on April 5, 2010 at 1:40 AM

You got the DOF bang on target ..lovely colors and amazing light ..well done

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on April 5, 2010 at 8:05 AM

The thumbnail drew me in because of the bird's position, but the larger version all you notice is the sharpness of the face and eye. Thanks for sharing these.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on April 5, 2010 at 8:31 AM

An amazing image with excellent detail and perfect stance to the bird. I found the background initially a little distracting, but this diminished as the wonderful bird drew all my attention.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 5, 2010 at 10:37 AM

Lon,

I don't see the motion blur as a distraction at all in this image, I think it adds a great sense of movement to the photo.

This is excellent.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 5, 2010 at 1:03 PM

The Sharp-tail dancing all about motion; I think you have captured that superbly. You've got just enough motion in the wings and legs to convey a sense of movement without creating a distraction. I am especially impressed with the low angle you've got here. Just excellent!

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

Comment posted by May Haga on April 5, 2010 at 3:12 PM

This is a beauty Lon. You've captured that wonderful action.
May

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

Comment posted by Loulou Beavers on April 5, 2010 at 3:37 PM

Great light, great pose en just love the low ankle.

Registered on June 21, 2008, 73 Posts, 205 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 5, 2010 at 6:14 PM

Super shot Lon. Not much else to add to what has already been said. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 5, 2010 at 6:22 PM

Wonderful image and natural history.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on April 6, 2010 at 3:28 PM

I agree with all the other comments. I especially like the way the light grazes the purple air sac, makes a catchlight in the eye and lights up the orange brow. A great shot.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on April 6, 2010 at 3:33 PM

Terrific behaviour shot Lon. Love the colours and textures. Well done!!

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on April 6, 2010 at 9:01 PM

Super shot, Lon. Love the color, detail, action, and the capture of the behavior.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 6, 2010 at 10:01 PM

This is great Lon. Excellent detail. The motion blur does not bother me at all, I think it really helps portray the scene. Congrats on an awesome image.

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