European Starling

Gallery: AvianPosted October 9, 2011140 views13 comments

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: October 7, 2011 6:43 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor 300/2.8 AF-S & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, aperture priority matrix meter, 1/320th @ f/8
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 70% of full frame
Not baited, not a setup

In soft warm morning light even the lowly and unloved Starling can be a worthy subject. Taken in natural light about 20 minutes after sunrise.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Larger version provided.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 9, 2011 at 1:13 AM

Glad the Arizona heat is now tolerable and you're out shooting again!!
Lovely light here, and incredible detail. Sweet pose and perfect perch.
A great example of the most common and unappreciated bird becoming a very exceptional image, when the right photographer is behind the lens.

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on October 9, 2011 at 1:55 AM

Great pose, light and perch on this image- Very well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 9, 2011 at 6:26 AM

Very nice Rich. Love the fall plumage of this species. Great light, detail, sharpness, and comp.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on October 9, 2011 at 6:52 AM

Outstanding image, Rich! Shows the bird off nicely, and the perch coudn't be any better. Well done!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 9, 2011 at 9:15 AM

Nice image. I like the simplicity of the perch against the sky. A lovely bird with great color and pattern.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 9, 2011 at 12:02 PM

I would agree that the light does even give a starling a very nice look. Fine image.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on October 9, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Gorgeous light on this Starling. Very well done. I happen to like starlings, maybe because they are relatively uncommon here.
May

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 9, 2011 at 8:01 PM

Ok, I'll admit it. I love this shot - even given the subject. Wonderful golden tones in both bird and perch and the IQ is excellent.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 9, 2011 at 9:12 PM

Love the light and the colors, you've made the Starling look wonderful!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 9, 2011 at 9:55 PM

Nice lighting and a lovely comp here Richard

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 9, 2011 at 9:58 PM

Gorgeous, Richard. With all of these we have, I never seem to find an opportunity to catch this plumage. Excellent composition.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 13, 2011 at 7:46 AM

What is outstanding to me here is how well the color and structure of the thin perch matches the markings on the bird, Richard. This is reinforced by the blue bg for the perch and the black bg in the bird. The shot is a little impersonal: the head turn is away from us. However, no doubt: a lovely shot.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 22, 2011 at 8:07 PM

The comp flows nicely with this interesting perch, and it compliments the bird Rich.
Like the pale blue sky, warm colors, great light, and sharp details I see - Well done

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