Getting "The Eye"

Gallery: AvianPosted March 23, 2011188 views12 comments

I nabbed this shot in the midst of testing some new combinations of gear. I was actually waiting for red squirrels to show their faces when this Clark's Nutcracker landed and "eyed" me up and down (presumably hoping that I'd have a snack for it). Sorry buddy!

While a very simple "big bird on a big stick" photo, I liked the head turn and the natural "s-curve" formed by the bird's body. The DOF/selective focus (leaving the legs and lower belly out-of-focus) was intentional.

Subject: Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) checking me out
Location:Findlay Creek, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Nikkor 400 mm f/2.8 VRII lens paired with TC-14EII (1.4x) TC - total effective focal length of 825mm. Shot from tripod with Wimberley head
Exposure: 1/160s at f11. ISO 250. No compensation from matrix metered exposure.
Crop: This is about 95% of full frame.

Comments & critiques welcomed. Probably better to view larger version first...

More image details, including processing protocol and field notes, right here on my website:

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/.

Cheers...thanks for looking...

Brad

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on March 23, 2011 at 7:41 PM

Hi Brad:

The head, particularly the eye, is very sharp. The vertical comp suits the perch and you have a nice background. I would like to see more of the perch and maybe not as tight a crop, if you have the option. Also, a little more DOF to bring the feet also in focus.

We don't get them here often, so it's always good to see them.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 23, 2011 at 7:59 PM

Primary detail sharp as a tack as always. I like the head turn and the way it plays against the BG colors. The larger version seems to show a faint halo on the bill, but only there. Could just be a natural contrast differential of the black against the BG blue.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 24, 2011 at 12:20 AM

You've captured the corvid intelligence here nicely, Brad. The DOF may be intentional, but I find myself wishing more of the bird was in focus. I understand you wanted to emphasize that insolent eyeball, but my keeps getting distracted by the OOF bird. I'm surprised you didn't get more DOF at f11, even with 825mm.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 24, 2011 at 12:33 AM

Charming and intimate view of this interesting species. I like the angulation in the body that you refer to, pretty casual. I also like the selective focus on the facial area that you chose; as Jim has said it really shows off that corvid intelligence - can almost see the gears turning. I don't know, but the selective focus on the eye has me wondering if the ground rules in avian might be a little bit different than in mammals in terms of what should (or perhaps is normally expected) be in focus?!?

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

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on March 24, 2011 at 8:07 AM

a very curious fellow!

Only nit, I'd also like to see more of him in focus. Especially the feet, as their being sharp would balance the sharpness of the head and frame the softer body.

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 24, 2011 at 9:11 AM

Hey all,

Thanks for the interesting feedback...

Gary - you said:

but the selective focus on the eye has me wondering if the ground rules in avian might be a little bit different than in mammals in terms of what should (or perhaps is normally expected) be in focus?!?

Really good point and very interesting thought. I suspect the same.

Lucy - I understand your point, but I'm a loss to figure out how I could have two separate areas in focus with a soft zone in-between (which is what would be required to have head and feet sharp, but body out-of-focus) - that's a trick I'd like to learn

! Not too hard to do with a flower (via layering different images with different focal points), but pretty hard with a dynamic subject...

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 24, 2011 at 2:54 PM

Plenty sharp and a bit of an "in-your-face" look. It's a bit tight on the left and I feel the stump makes for a somewhat unbalanced photo butthat's in the eye of the beholder.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Andrei Malashenko on March 24, 2011 at 3:13 PM

Hi Brad. Nice image! I think you did great job on this picture because in my opinion you are totally controlling how the viewer looks at this photo (starting from the sharp eye and following the curves down to the tree trunk). It's one thing to do that when photographing landscapes, and it's another to do it with wildlife. Really well done! Best regards, Andrei

Registered on March 18, 2011, 13 Posts, 68 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 24, 2011 at 8:42 PM

Hey Andrei,

Exactly...that was the intent - interesting you noticed! And thanks very much!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 25, 2011 at 1:09 AM

Everything I would have wanted to say about this photo has already been said, so I'll simply add a shout of approval on another wonderful image Brad :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on March 26, 2011 at 1:22 PM

Hi Brad,

The way I would "sharpen" the feet, would to increase the structure using NIK's Viveza function. Not exactly a sharpen....but gives you that look I was thinking a bit.. I actually,really like the soft body..makes me want to hold him in my hands.

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 27, 2011 at 1:11 PM

I too like the things you suggested as well as the shallow dof on the bird. It makes the head pop more

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