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Black and White and Cold
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Black and White and Cold

by Robbie Knight

Gallery: AvianPosted January 29, 2014100 views6 comments
For several years I have wanted to capture shots of this Corvid in the snow. Time and again I have found it difficult to create a proper exposure, loaded with detail on both the white and back parts of these very social, inquisical and smart birds (Black-billed Magpie). Challenging task, filled with missed and blurry shots (anyone relate) ? This younger bird finally let me get close enough and I like the results. What was being eaten is anyone's guess but the bird was intent on picking it to pieces.... Fun to watch on a very cold day in Northern Utah, Antelope Island, on the Great Salt Lake.

1DX, ISO 100, 800mm, f9, 1/640th. :smile:

Robbie

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Matthew Studebaker on January 29, 2014 at 6:37 PM
very clean, well separated from the background. The crop is tighter than most but I think still works here. I wonder if the mid-tones and maybe blacks could be brightened a touch?
Registered on December 21, 2013, 11 Posts, 82 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 29, 2014 at 8:17 PM
Nice pose and an excellent composition with the lines of the Magpie matching the snow. It looks to me like you could bump the birghtness up just a bit more.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 29, 2014 at 8:47 PM
That is certainly a good challenge to deal with the contrasts for this type of shot but you are very close. I would agree on trying to get more feather detail on the blacks.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 30, 2014 at 9:43 PM
Agree with others about more detail in the blacks and less of a crop, but I do like the behavior and the snowy drift.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 31, 2014 at 10:03 AM
I like the cool tones in your winter image. Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 31, 2014 at 10:32 PM
Hi Robbie :wavey: Looks like a great bird to capture :cool: The others have said it all. especially trying ro get more detail and brightness from the blacks.
Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments