Black-chinned Sparrow

Gallery: AvianPosted June 5, 201097 views9 comments

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, monopod

1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 250

Crop to 57% of original (10.3 of 18MP)

Haven't had a lot of time to post or comment lately, but hope to change that. Black-chinned Sparrow is a bird that I really enjoy seeing. They are easy to find about 15 miles from my house, and I've made several attempts this spring but hadn't gotten much until this morning. Today I found a very obliging pair, which must have had a nest nearby. I spent about 20 minutes watching them gather insects, unconcerned, at close range.

The bg in this one is a little busy, but it does convey the brushy, shrubby habitat they prefer. I think the good pose, unobstructed view of the bird, fine detail, and pleasant distant bg make it a good shot.

Will post some shots with lots of insect prey next.

Not sure why, but I had to back off my usual sharpening routine here. I typically smart sharpen at 150-200, radius 0.3. For all these shots, 90-125 seemed more appropriate, and I may have oversharpened some all the same.

Comments and critiques appreciated. Please view larger version if possible.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 5, 2010 at 6:55 PM

A solid shot of this sparrow. I don't see them very often down here in the lowlands, and don't get to take photos very often. But I'd noticed their feathers are "crunchy" for want of a better work.

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

Comment posted by David Chauvin on June 5, 2010 at 8:08 PM

Very nice shot in the habitat. The large feathers in version do look a bit crunchy but nothing objectionable.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on June 5, 2010 at 8:29 PM

Crisp is the word I would use.

You sharpen about where I do. Are you using bicubic to resize or bicubic sharper?

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on June 5, 2010 at 8:30 PM

Nice to see this sparrow in the habitat it prefers Brian. As you mention the background is busy but there's also the value of presenting the bird where it likes to hang out so I quite like this on those merits. Pretty neat to get the sparrow unobstructed in such a jumble of branches and twigs.

I use the same gear as you do and had the same sharpening experience today which I find interesting. I virtually always sharpen the same amount which seems to work nicely, until the image I most recently posted where I had to back off by 1/3. Don't know why. Perhaps, as Richard suggests, some species like your sparrow and my bunting have feathers that appear more "crunchy" than is usual for most species. Curious...

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 5, 2010 at 9:24 PM

The detail and colors look good, I do not mind the busy background and the upper dark background really helps bring the bird out more for me, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on June 6, 2010 at 12:32 AM

Nice one Brian - lovely detail and setting

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on June 6, 2010 at 10:02 AM

I agree with your assessment of this image, Brian: busy but attractive. It does seem a bit oversharpened to me ("crunchy"). However, I the topic of sharpening is not exactly straightforward. This same image might look great as a print. Also, I don't see any halos. Anyway, I like the image. Especially I like how the bird seems interested in us.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 6, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Never seen one. Nice pose and eye contact

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on June 6, 2010 at 6:26 PM

Nice shot Brian-lovely pose and I think the BG works well. You managed the sharpening pretty well IMO.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments