Red Pens

Gallery: AvianPosted April 5, 2014491 views32 comments

I posted one with the 'red pens' of the Cedar Waxwing on display two months ago. In this one I achieved a more uniform background, different perch as well.
F/6.3, 1/500th, ISO 640, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x ext & overcast at 11:21am. Shot in a vertical orientation.

Comments

32 comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on April 5, 2014 at 6:38 PM

Sweet, Howard.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 5, 2014 at 6:53 PM

Wonderful color harmony in this, and very nice and natural feathers.

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

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on April 5, 2014 at 7:07 PM

Stunning!

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Marsh on April 5, 2014 at 9:41 PM

Beautiful image Howard. Love the detail and the smooth bg.

Bill

Registered on December 29, 2012, 21 Posts, 225 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 5, 2014 at 10:20 PM

Excellent texture in the plumage, Howard. I'm not too crazy about the composition. It feels like there's a lot of empty space on the bottom.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 5, 2014 at 11:10 PM

Howard,
This is just excellent. The yellows and the reds just POP. Almost good that you had overcast conditions. Nice even lighting. I like the head turn and the good eye contact. Very nice perch and a delicious background. If this isn't already cropped significantly then I would consider removing a little off the bottom. Not much but I agree with Dennis that there might be a little too much negative space. Sweet image Howard.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 5, 2014 at 11:27 PM

Nice pose Howard, shows off the beautiful crest in this species. This is another species that seems to be in decline in our area, noticeably fewer every year. Perfect exposure, very sharp. I'm not too crazy about the composition either, sorry. Might even consider a horizontal considering the perch angle. I would try to include more of the nice green in the upper part of the image and reduce the tan part at the bottom.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 6, 2014 at 4:15 AM

First of all a wonderful bird and composition, the BG is very well matching the bird. Notorious for the soft feathers and hence often seeming slightly soft, this one looks tack sharp. You could try and bring out a little more detail in the blacks, but other than that a first rate shot Howard ! Could imagine having it here on the wall

. Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on April 6, 2014 at 8:00 PM

Excellent capture Howard! The color palette is very nice!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on April 7, 2014 at 7:07 AM

This is just wonderful Howard, the colors and the smooth creamy background are beautiful. The detail of the Waxwing and the pose couldn't be better. Outstanding work! I like the branches framing the bird on the second shot also.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 7, 2014 at 8:16 AM

Beautiful look at this Waxwing Howard. You have captured that smooth texture to it's feathers perfectly. The background colors work perfectly with the bird.

I like the repost too.

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

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on April 7, 2014 at 9:06 AM

One of my favorite species and captured very well, Howard.

Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 7, 2014 at 9:17 AM

These are one of my favorite birds, Howard, and this pose really shows off their elegance against a very complementary background. Very well done! I prefer the original post because the gentle negative space complements the elegance of the bird.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 7, 2014 at 10:23 AM

Really beautiful capture of this Waxwing Howard. Love the colors, nice clean image. Nice work!

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on April 7, 2014 at 12:04 PM

Very nice. The background mimics the bird'd colors. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on April 8, 2014 at 9:45 AM

I just love your image, Howard. For me, its beauty and elegance lie in its simplicity. Your chosen comp reminds me of the style of Japanese brush paintings of birds (like this one by Kwason Suzuki). I think you used empty space beautifully, giving a serene overall feeling to the piece. Wonderful work.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 8, 2014 at 7:41 PM

Very pleasing image! You have lots of ways to work with this nice bg. Great job! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Jason Jablonski on April 8, 2014 at 8:24 PM

Excellent capture! Love the solid backdrop.

Registered on March 1, 2014, 24 Posts, 43 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 8, 2014 at 8:45 PM

Beautiful image Howard, the crop works well for me with the complementary bg and the bird's head near the rule of thirds spot.

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

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on April 10, 2014 at 10:32 AM

Beautiful Howard,
Congratulations on the WP . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 10, 2014 at 11:05 AM

This is the image I'm after - perfect pose to show the pins, sharp detail throughout, bright eye, and great BG.

Congrats on the WP!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 10, 2014 at 11:26 AM

WOW, I sure missed this beauty, Howard. What a gorgeous take of this bird. Truly wonderful.

Congratulations on this image being selected for the WP in the avian gallery too. Well deserved........

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 10, 2014 at 2:48 PM

Congrats on the WP, Howard. Such a wonderful, complimentary background to go with a great view of this beauty.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on April 10, 2014 at 3:21 PM

Congratulations on the weekly pick! Great shot of a beautiful bird. I jjust wish, they would hang around here more than one day!

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 10, 2014 at 8:16 PM

Congrats on the WP Howard, as stated before "beautiful".

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 10, 2014 at 11:58 PM

Congrats on the WP Howard...I had a feeling this was going to get it for the week and am happy to see it did. Well deserved.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on April 11, 2014 at 4:35 PM

Howard your bird fits beautifully on to that great smooth Bg, excellent shot.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 11, 2014 at 7:57 PM

Howard,
Super duper congrats on the Wp. Deservedly so. Stellar image that we would all love to have. Way to go.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 12, 2014 at 8:19 AM

Congratulations with this well-deserved WP , Howard !

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on April 12, 2014 at 11:17 AM

Hi Howard

Sorry i'm late .. better late than never

A fantastic capture..

perfect and artistically done composition.. sublime colors and detail

A well deserved WP

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on April 13, 2014 at 2:01 PM

It almost looks lifelike. Spectacular shot.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on April 15, 2014 at 8:11 AM

Congratulation on the Editor Pick Howard, well deserved!

Ray

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