Catbird

Gallery: AvianPosted August 23, 201156 views8 comments

This catbird was examining me pretty carefully from deep in some bushes. Normally white spots are a distraction in an image: they are here too. However, I think it's fun for the viewer to discover that one of the white spots contains the bird's head and wide-eyed look. I like the detail (especially in the large version) too.

All comments most welcome.

1D Mark IV, 400 mm f/5.6, 1.4x TC, hand held: ISO 1250, 1/1000 s, f/8, -1/3 EV, 8.7 MP (54% of 16 MP full frame), NR, exposure adjustment, sharpening.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 23, 2011 at 3:36 PM

The thumbnail will probably keep a lot of people from viewing this, but I'm glad I opened it. It is busy and the light is bad, but you did well exposing for the important face and getting it focused there as well.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on August 23, 2011 at 5:05 PM

Yes, good job with the exposure and focus.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 23, 2011 at 8:32 PM

Steve, I think it's an interesting shot for the reasons mentioned by you and Rich. Great look at the eye.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 23, 2011 at 9:51 PM

Others will probably disagree, Steve, but I like these "bird in the brush" shots. They work nicely when the head is sunlit and as sharp as you have it here.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 24, 2011 at 1:12 AM

Bravo for putting forward a photo that really demonstrates how we often see birds in their habitat. The focus on the eye with that over the shoulder look really demonstrates how the bird views our presence in many cases, he has concerns and isn't about to leave his cover.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 24, 2011 at 8:42 PM

Thank you so much, everyone. I knew that this photo was certainly not as beautiful as those which all of you have posted. However, I found it appealing for all the reasons mentioned in your comments and I'm glad that you all did too.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 24, 2011 at 9:12 PM

I agree Steve, it's neat the way the light has lit-up the birds face here..
Otherwise lost in the bush, the light has brought it to life

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 26, 2011 at 8:42 AM

interesting shot, Steve--as others have said you did really well with exposure and focus. this is definitely the most representative image of a catbird and its habitat that I've ever seen--this is definitely a bird of the thickets, and not a bird that really fits as a bird on a stick. the nice light on the face lets us look into its world for a moment before it dives back into the dark tangle.

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