Song Sparrow

Gallery: AvianPosted September 18, 2011136 views20 comments

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ, USA
Date: December 27, 2009 8:31 am
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: Aperture priority spot metered, ISO 400, 1/250th @ f/5.6
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 88% of frame

One of a small series of this bird with slightly different positions. This bird popped up nearby as I was shooting large waders and stayed put while I lifted my tripod and set it down on my other side to get these close views. A very similar image from the series was posted here on 1/24/10.

I talk more about head position, light, and setting for this set of images on my blog.

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

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 18, 2011 at 6:48 PM

Richard, the head turn to the right and the sidelighting really make this image. The detail is impeccable and the reeds help the balance well.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on September 18, 2011 at 7:10 PM

The lighting is very nice and I really like how the bird is all puffed up. A very pleasing image to look at.

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

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on September 18, 2011 at 9:49 PM

Works very nicely with this near perfect head turn, if the head was turned a little more to the left then the shaded eye could be a problem, but as it is I like it a lot with this sidelighting.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on September 19, 2011 at 12:47 AM

Very nice Richard, composition's great and I love the angle of the Sparrow's head as well as it's puffed-up plumage!

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

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on September 19, 2011 at 6:02 AM

I'll just ditto the others. Very nice. I am wondering about getting rid of that OOF stem to the left. Seems to distract me

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on September 19, 2011 at 6:59 AM

Richard this is very good i do like the puffed out plumage and the relaxed pose of the bird.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 19, 2011 at 8:45 AM

I like the light from the side, head turn, and details I see.
Nice lookin' feather-ball,
Well done Rich

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on September 19, 2011 at 9:20 AM

Beautiful light, sharpness, detail, great pose. You get such great backgrounds in the midst of habitat.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 19, 2011 at 8:51 PM

Beautiful shot Richard, love the pose and the setting.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on September 19, 2011 at 8:57 PM

Classic song sparrow pose, Richard. The side lighting and nice head turn combine to show off the eye ring of this beauty. Very nice detail in the sparrow and the background colors are very nice. Beautiful image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on September 19, 2011 at 10:19 PM

Puffy pose and sharp details make this one nice! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 19, 2011 at 11:44 PM

Really like the light on the sparrow's face in this one Richard. Excellent techs as usual.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on September 20, 2011 at 7:45 AM

Very pleasing composition Rich. The pose, perch, and head turn all work well and I love the diffused light filtering thru the reeds.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 20, 2011 at 7:49 AM

The side lighting is nice Rich. Nice depth. I also like the reeds and darker BG. Usual nice detail and sharpness.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 20, 2011 at 12:21 PM

Very interesting composition with the reeds and the directional light. I really like the pose on the reed and the head turn gives you the eye contact. Nice job in getting this close shot without scarring the bird away, well done Rich.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on September 20, 2011 at 1:18 PM

Very nice pose, the bird is looking right into the camera.
May

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

Comment posted by Jay Levin on September 20, 2011 at 2:09 PM

Beautiful lighting and excellent composition. The sparrow is giving you a great pose on the reed. Lovely image.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 20, 2011 at 10:27 PM

Beautiful light and pose, Richard. I like the lines formed by the reeds.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on September 20, 2011 at 10:46 PM

Sweet little thing and I love the overall comp. If it were mine I'd be tempted to remove the stray oof twigs bottom left, left top side above the head and the horizontal one left side intersecting the bird. I don't mind the horizontal on the right as it fits there better IMO

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 20, 2011 at 10:56 PM

If it were mine I'd be tempted to remove the stray oof twigs bottom left, left top side above the head and the horizontal one left side intersecting the bird.

My preference and practice is to leave my shots as close to natural as possible so I don't clone out this sort of stuff.

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