BH Grosbeak & Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted August 6, 2010151 views13 comments

A complement to Brian Gatlin's post, this is either a female or immature male (I'm leaning toward the latter, but will be happy to be corrected). We've had some hanging around this summer, but this is the first opportunity I've had with one on a halfway decent perch.

7D, 500mm f4 + 1.4TC, Black Widow on Gitzo legs, f6.3, 1/1000s, iso 400, Av mode with -1/3 compensation, normal processing in CS4, subject distance 9.3m, cropped to 53% of the original. Taken at 8:02pm on July 30th.

I always look forward to your comments and criticisms.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 7, 2010 at 8:00 AM

Lovely light and complimentary colors in the background Dennis. I like the pose, the comp you used and the great look at the eye of this bird. Very nice details and sharpness, especially in the larger version.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 7, 2010 at 9:02 AM

I'm with Mia - the combination of colors in bird and background work very well here Dennis. Sharpness looks good on both bird and perch.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 7, 2010 at 9:44 AM

Glad you posted this, Dennis! An excellent complementary shot. A nice pose and perch, excellent details, and like Mia and Ron said, some nice colors in the bg that go with the bird.

I could be wrong too, but I suspect that you're right about the ID--I think that it is a young male in its first calendar year (a hatch year bird). I really enjoy the diversity of plumages in this species--it seems like no two birds are quite identical.

I like what you did with your signature here too.

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

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on August 7, 2010 at 10:51 AM

Hi Dennis,
Great warm light you caught on this one. I also like the fine details you captured. I do find the composition a tad bottom weighted but I think that was probably due to the large perch. Otherwise a very nice image.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 7, 2010 at 12:02 PM

Nice light; excellent detail. Like Brian I'm intrigued by the great variation in plumage of this species. My only issue with this image is the composition seems a bit unbalanced to me, with the bird lower in the frame than I'd place it.

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

Comment posted by David Hemmings on August 7, 2010 at 12:25 PM

Beautiful light and details with a really sweet bg, well done

Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 7, 2010 at 3:41 PM

Terrific detai, Dennis. Fine pose, interesting perch, catchlight. Nice. Maybe a bit of an orange cast but then again, maybe just a morning light effect that you want.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on August 7, 2010 at 4:23 PM

Nice light and everything, but I'd also place the bird higher in the frame.

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

Comment posted by denise ippolito on August 7, 2010 at 8:40 PM

Dennis, Nice pose and sharp details. I think the larger image really shows this off.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 7, 2010 at 11:05 PM

A few people thought it would work better with the bird higher in the frame. This is as high as he'll go without adding canvas. I'd like to know what you think.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 8, 2010 at 1:51 AM

Very attractive warm light and nicely weathered old log perch. I was going to suggest a bit more room at the bottom before scrolling down to see what others may have said.....well I can say I really like the repost. This species made a rare visit to our town in June, of course I was "out of town" when it happened....

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 8, 2010 at 11:57 AM

The lighting is awesome here Dennis, looks like a young male to me. I'd normally prefer the bird higher in the frame but I suspect you were trying to minimize the large perch here.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on August 8, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Wonderful all the way around. I really like the composition and exposure!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments