Lapland Longspur

Gallery: AvianPosted August 21, 2012221 views11 comments

This was one species I was eager to experience and photograph during my visit to the Seward Peninsula around Nome Alaska. Although they were not real easy to photograph they were very common and we got several opportunities with them. They would often show up when we were photographing other bird species. I do have compositions of this bird with more space to the right, but I liked this one showing more of it's unique drift wood perch. Now if he would have just broke into a song, they have quite a nice voice.

Canon MkIV, 600mm & 1.4x, 1/400, f8, ISO 640, manual spot meter

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Ken Archer

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 21, 2012 at 7:14 PM

Great bird and nice pose. The comp feels quite unbalanced to me, although I understand what you'r trying to do.
If it were mine (wish it were, hope to have one like this next summer!), I'd crop to just beyond the bird's tailfeathers, and then simply clone in more buff BG in front of the bird.
The bird's colours and detail are great. The eye is a bit lost in it's dark mask, though. With a bit of levels and /or brightness/contrast experimenting, I bet you could define the eye more.
Really nice image!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on August 21, 2012 at 8:41 PM

I do like the image of this bird. I agree with Sandy about abit more of the eye needing to be seen, not sure about the composition with the bird tight to the right. I guess for me it is OK, since the bird is so attractive. Seems like you had a good trip! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on August 22, 2012 at 12:30 AM

Great colors on this bird, Ken. I think you needed a tiny bit more of a head turn and maybe some detail in the black area on the face. The composition doesn't bug me.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 22, 2012 at 12:55 AM

So am I the only NPN'r who didn't make it to the Seward Peninsula this summer? Very nice work on the bird, and the perch is good – looks like a driftwood log along Safety Lagoon – but the composition is just a little too funky for my taste. My fault, I think, not yours...

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 22, 2012 at 1:27 AM

Amazing feather patterns/color to this bird, I would love to be able to see one of these as I have noticed them in my bird books. I go back and forth on the composition, I might be inclined to crop to get the driftwood sticking up on the left out of the image (since it is out of focus) but leave the nice driftwood at the bottom since the lichen color adds to the birds color but however you crop the image it is still a very fine shot, way to go Ken.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 22, 2012 at 9:31 PM

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 22, 2012 at 10:57 PM

Sweet bird and a nice perch, Ken.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on August 23, 2012 at 7:59 PM

Excellent image Ken. The perch is great as is the detail in the bird. I like this image as posted.
May

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

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on August 24, 2012 at 5:45 PM

Ken, a very good shot. I tend to agree with Sandy's comments regarding the eye & the composition. Excellent feather detail.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 25, 2012 at 8:28 PM

Very nice image, really shows of their wonderful colors. A bit more dof to reveal more of the great perch in focus would be my wish. Congratulations!

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 25, 2012 at 11:15 PM

Cool bird and perch. I'd be tempted to add canvas at right and even the top.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments