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Singing Chickadee (+ Repost)
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Singing Chickadee (+ Repost)

by Roger Kirchen

Gallery: AvianPosted February 6, 201282 views3 comments
This little fellow alighted on a branch next to me as I was waiting in the trees for a nearby Pileated Woodpecker. There very many Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) around, but this is the only one that came this close and that started singing.

The photo was taken last year at the end of February and I can't wait to go out again later this month. Until then I practice using LR3 (and PS).

I like the photo because of the pose of the bird and the fact that it is singing. The light was quite poor and I was set up with high ISO.

Canon 7D, Sigma 150-500 mm at 403 mm, 1/800 sec at f/6.3. Captured in Large RAW and cropped to 80 % of the capture. PP done in LR3.

All C & Cs are welcome. Thanks for visiting.

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by William Bickle on February 7, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Hello Roger

Yes , A Great Singing Pose, The Backlit open mouth with pink Tongue Adds to the Overall Image. Being So Dark at the Head is really a Photographers challenge to get detail. The bright sky is some what overpowering. Without a fill flash, mostly some bright sunlight will assist in the dark head. There is a Natural catch Light although somewhat faint.

A Sweet Little Guy.Thanks for sharing.

Bill
Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 7, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Roger, I like the open bill and the view of the tongue here. I think the setting with the oof branches is interesting too. the eye stands out surprisingly well in the larger version given the difficult light, but I do wish there was more detail in the black cap--on a bright scene like this it's easy to underexpose.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on February 10, 2012 at 11:32 PM
Bill and Brian, thanks for your comments. I have toned down the highlights and tried to bring more detail into the cap. A repost is attached.
Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments