Loggerhead Shrike

Gallery: AvianPosted May 10, 2010136 views23 comments

I've been able to get some shrike images recently that I like but often their sagebrush perches obscure the tail and/or feet. This shot was a welcome exception.

Larger image provided.

7D, 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 4-19-10, cropped to 51% of original image, lightened blacks slightly in ACR, cloned out the tips of four sage twigs poking into bottom of frame, sharpened bird and parts of the perch, no other processing, natural light

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by wade pettitt on May 10, 2010 at 6:58 PM

Ron , this is gorgeous. I love the blue sky background and the great detail in the bird. This bird is very high on my want list. Well done!.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 10, 2010 at 6:59 PM

The detail looks great here Ron, as you said nice to get him teed up like this. I'd take a small crop from the top comp wise. Lovely shot!

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on May 10, 2010 at 7:29 PM

I tried taking a bit off the top by scrolling Nate. I think you're right.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 10, 2010 at 7:46 PM

Super image quality on this shot Ron. I love shrikes. Great perch as you say, nice look at the whole bird here. Great exposure and nice eye contact. Sharpness looks perfect to me. I agree, taking a bit off the top makes for a better comp IMO. Overall great shot.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on May 10, 2010 at 8:43 PM

So nice that he was willing to sit for you. Seems like every once in a while one will do that. Good detail in the dark areas, and sharp as can be.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 10, 2010 at 9:01 PM

I want one so bad! Sweet one Ron!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 10, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Very nice. I can't get enough of this species.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on May 10, 2010 at 9:31 PM

Your images are always sharpened perfectly. My hat is off to another super image.Thanks much for sharing.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 10, 2010 at 9:33 PM

Very nice solid image of this shrike. He's a beauty and perch, pose, sharpness are all wonderful. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on May 10, 2010 at 9:46 PM

Beautiful image Ron, I love it. When you try the new crop you may wish to try cloning out the dead OOF bit the protrudes up out of the perch on the right side just to see.

Congrats!

Peter

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 10, 2010 at 10:38 PM

I love these birds. They are so scrappy. Excellent job in capturing that stare thing they do.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on May 10, 2010 at 10:46 PM

great shrike shot, Ron--love the fierce look. nice clean view, nice sagebrush perch, really good detail.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on May 11, 2010 at 6:57 AM

Beautiful detail and light Ron - great shot

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on May 11, 2010 at 9:28 AM

Hey Ron,
Nice capture. I especially like your control of the shadow detail here. The separation of the eye from the mask is spot on.
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 11, 2010 at 10:04 AM

Ron,
I have been trying to get a good shot of these guys for ever. I have the same problem with shrubbery obscuring the bird. Very nice take. Very sharp, nice whites, and great beak. Even the feet are fairly sharp for F/6.3. Well done.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 11, 2010 at 10:07 AM

Gorgeous shot, Ron. Excellent detail and I like the sage perch.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 11, 2010 at 10:49 AM

Excellent detail on this shrike Ron. Love the blue BG on this...both detail on blacks and whites controlled perfectly. Nicely done sir!

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 11, 2010 at 11:45 AM

Very nice work on this piratic-looking species. Good detail in the whites and the blacks, the right angle to show that wicked bill tip, and perfectly sharp. You've really captured the bad guy sense of a passerine gone wrong. Excellent, Ron.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on May 11, 2010 at 2:16 PM

Perfect. Great perch, nice uncluttered background. Great detail.
May

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

Comment posted by Mack Barham on May 11, 2010 at 5:04 PM

Great shot - no nits here!

Registered on August 12, 2005, 537 Posts, 1107 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 12, 2010 at 12:02 AM

Something about this species that I just love, might be that they are so predatory? Now if I could just get within a mile of one on those rare occasions I see one. An excellent view with perfect pose. I might have placed him a bit higher in the frame and showed off a bit more of that nice pale green sagebrush.

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on May 12, 2010 at 4:38 AM

Excellent shot of this species. I've always liked these little guys for some unknown reason.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on May 12, 2010 at 8:27 AM

Ron,

There isn't a single thing I don't like about this image. It is excellent and show this little wannabe raptor off extremely well.

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