American Goldfinch

Gallery: AvianPosted June 14, 2011202 views18 comments

One from Saturday evening in the garden. The late evening light really oversaturated the yellow breast. I brought it down quite a bit using shadows/highlights tools in ACR. I think it looks reasonable now.

1DMkIV, 500mm f4 + 1.4TC, Black Widow on Gitzo legs, f8, 1/640, iso 800, Av mode with -1/3 compensation. Cropped from 16MP to 5.8MP, some extraneous partial blossoms removed. Taken at 8:10 pm on June 11th.

Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 14, 2011 at 11:26 PM

Beautiful shot Dennis, I like the warm lighting and the flowers.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 14, 2011 at 11:33 PM

I love how the light is falling on the bird and leaving the background darker. Flowers and sharp and beautiful colors. I might try just a little local sharpening at the eye. Great image overall.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 15, 2011 at 12:47 AM

We rarely see this species in western Alberta where I live. So to me this is a rather exotic looking bird to begin with, but in this setting with the red flower (Columbine?) it is sublime. Beautiful detail. I think you handled the yellow breast very well.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 15, 2011 at 4:24 AM

Beautiful colours throughout the image, a real treat for the eye, very well done Dennis :^)

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on June 15, 2011 at 7:40 AM

Love the "cheeky" pose Dennis, nice job on the PP.
And just the right amount of room up top for that magazine header

Well done

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

Comment posted by Tom Lusk on June 15, 2011 at 8:09 AM

This is wonderful, Dennis! This shot GLOWS!
One of the best Goldfinch shots I've seen.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 15, 2011 at 9:20 AM

Another sweet capture Dennis. I really like the flower he chose to perch on .What is it? At first i wasn't to fond of the plant covering some of the front but after more observasion I actualy really like it now because you caught it just right where the bird is kinda tucked in and peeking around the stem. Great bg too

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 15, 2011 at 10:07 AM

Cheryl wrote: "I really like the flower he chose to perch on .What is it?"

It's a native Columbine, Cheryl. There are a couple of species in North America. Ours is this color, and there's a blue one further east. It's been cultivated for the garden and is available in lots of colors and some doubles that are cute. However, if you get a variety for the garden, they do interbreed and you never know what you'll get the next year. The scientific name, for anyone who cares is Aquilegia formosa.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on June 15, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Very nice, Dennis. I like the lighting, and I always prefer to see a native flower with a native bird.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Darren McKenna on June 15, 2011 at 10:35 AM

Lovely light and perch, this is a beauty.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 31 Posts, 214 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on June 15, 2011 at 11:13 AM

Lovely. ! Don't know which is the better - bird or Columbine

Cheers
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on June 15, 2011 at 12:08 PM

Another absolutely gorgeous image Dennis. WOW, wow!!!!

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on June 15, 2011 at 12:45 PM

Just a great all around image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on June 15, 2011 at 7:01 PM

Dennis:
I wonder if this wonderful perch would overwhelm a bird less brilliant than a Goldfinch. But the Goldfinch and perch fit together so nicely. I like the way the Goldfinch is "flirting" with the photographer. Good job on the yellows.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on June 16, 2011 at 7:55 AM

Colors and pose are wonderful. Excellent shot.

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on June 16, 2011 at 9:02 PM

HEY DENNIS WHAT A GREAT SHOT AND SWEET QUALITY!!!
thank you for stopping by in my gallery, the ISO on my last photo was 400.....
thank you again and keep us busy with awesome work!!!