Song Sparrow

Gallery: AvianPosted November 14, 2010130 views17 comments

b]Song Sparrow[/b] (Melospiza melodia)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ, USA
Date: November 12, 2010
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: Aperture priority matrix metered, ISO 400, 1/640th @ f/5.6
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 90% of frame

While trying to find a reported vagrant on Friday morning this Song Sparrow popped up on a good perch in good light close by.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Please base critical comments on the larger version if possible.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on November 14, 2010 at 12:22 PM

Nice one Richard, nice pose, catchlight, BG, and details in the feathers. It's kind of amazing to me at how many times in photos the background colors match the color of the bird. I guess it's because they dwell in habitat in which they blend in to avoid being seen by predators, or in the case of predators, blend in to avoid being seen by the prey.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on November 14, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Nice and warm. Good perch, head turn catch light and sharp. You've put it all together in this image. He's a little centered for me though, and a crop from the left-you might need to clone out the top of that limb-might work well.

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

Comment posted by Ian Mason on November 14, 2010 at 1:28 PM

Lovely light indeed! I agree with Angela about cropping out the branch on the left.

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 14, 2010 at 1:52 PM

Richard,
I like as posted. Superb detail and complementary background.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on November 14, 2010 at 2:44 PM

You aren't kidding about good light! love the warmth of this image. Excellent details and good eye contact with the subject.
I'm not sure about a different crop, the comp works both ways and I do like the included habitat. Well done as usual.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on November 14, 2010 at 3:03 PM

Nice pose and detail, I also like the diagonal perch and warm light

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

Comment posted by Richard Tomalty on November 14, 2010 at 4:06 PM

This is almost a monochromatic. Very nice. Your quality has not diminished since the last time I posted many moons ago.
Cheers
RickT

Registered on October 11, 2006, 212 Posts, 1610 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 14, 2010 at 4:25 PM

Oh sweet shot Rich. Love the light in the one. Great comp too. Super detail. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on November 14, 2010 at 4:38 PM

Nice light and I like the diagonal of the perch. You also have a nice pose and a good color pallette. I like the branch on the left, it seems to fill in some space in the comp without being intrusive or distracting and I wouldn't crop it out.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 14, 2010 at 8:40 PM

Exceptional, just as you've presented it Rich.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 14, 2010 at 8:47 PM

Rich, looking at this quickly my knee-jerk reaction is "too centered" but taking some time to really look at it I find the comp is nicely balanced as you've presented it. I'd neither crop nor clone the stem at left--I think it adds to and balances the image. lovely light, pose, detail and bg as well.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on November 14, 2010 at 10:56 PM

I'm fine with it as posted, Rich. The various shades of brown combine very nicely here. I like the alert look of the bird directed at us too.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 15, 2010 at 2:43 AM

Lovely light and detail Rich

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on November 15, 2010 at 10:49 AM

Nice capture Richard!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on November 15, 2010 at 6:33 PM

Very nicely captured. Outstanding in it's simplicity- the monochromatic tones are very appealing.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 17, 2010 at 7:13 PM

Rich,

The warm amber background is spectacular with the song sparrow's coloration. I like the comp you used, it has a nice, balanced feel to it. Wonderful details, sharpness, light and eye contact. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 6, 2011 at 9:07 PM

I like the warm color tones and natural framing Richard, this works well.
Seeing some new winter migrants moving through now, hope I'm lucky enough to get this one.
Well done.

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments