Gambel's Quail

Gallery: AvianPosted December 7, 2010119 views14 comments

This was taken very early in the morning during my recent stay in Arizona, outside of Apache Junction.

Olympus e3
Olympus ZD300 f2.8 w/2x
f5.7
ISO 400
1/1600th
70% of FF
Neat Image on the bg

Comments and critiques welcome. Thanks.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on December 7, 2010 at 7:47 AM

Great pose you got here! The OOF stone in front is a little destracting but as always your images are interesting and well done.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 7, 2010 at 8:14 AM

A really nice comp Mike. Love the pose of the quail. The one really bright rock in front of the bird grabs my attention a bit. For some reason I expected a bit more fine detail in the larger version given this is 70% of FF. Maybe it is my early morning eyes giving me problems. Overall a very pleasing image.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on December 7, 2010 at 8:47 AM

The low angle really pays off here, Mike. A handsome bird and that quizzical expression is great.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 7, 2010 at 9:37 AM

Mike, Excellent pose in this light to both shot off the topknot and do a good job on the exposure of the head black and whites.

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on December 7, 2010 at 9:52 AM

Really great bird and pose Mike!! Pretty, I have to agree about the bird being a bit OOF and not as crisp as possible. Great shot though!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 7, 2010 at 9:59 AM

Good directional light to show the colors of the Gambel. I would have to agree about the OOF rocks but a minor issue. One of my favorite birds to watch and photograph, nice job in getting this shot.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 7, 2010 at 1:34 PM

A very nice pose and great eye contact Michael, love the top knot of this species. The one bright OOF rock on the left side of the frame does pull my eye away from the quail a bit, I might consider selectively toning that down a bit. I like what appears to be an inquisitive look from the quail.

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on December 7, 2010 at 5:32 PM

Some lovely detail and colours in the bird

Well captured.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on December 7, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Nice pose. It is so hard to get these guys as they scurry so quickly. Detail looks good to me. The oof rocks are slightly distracting but maybe that can be reduced by toning them down as Mia has suggested.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on December 8, 2010 at 1:11 AM

I like the head turn, the angle the body makes as the bird leans forward, and the quizzical look. Yes, the oof rock does distract a bit, but you couldn't have helped this because of the low angle of the shot. Rich says that the bird may have mistaken the rock for an egg (!). Methinks, the bird mistook your bald pate for an egg!

Just pulling your leg. I don't even know if you have a bald pate!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 8, 2010 at 3:14 PM

Nicely captured Michael. I love these guys.
May

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 8, 2010 at 3:24 PM

I like like the alert pose, head angle and low pov. Cute bird too.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 8, 2010 at 10:53 PM

Excellent, Mike. Lovely detail and the head turn and eye contact are great. Nice low angle.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on December 8, 2010 at 11:37 PM

Like the low perspective and quizzical look Mike

cheers
Rob

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