Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Gallery: AvianPosted May 4, 201481 views7 comments

Dozens of little ruby-crowned kinglets and yellow-rumped warblers flitted around me at the edge of a pond as they migrated north. Rarely would one perch for more of a second, which added to the challenge, excitement, and frustration of capturing a usable image.

A fill flash would have helped light up the bird's head. This would also have allowed for a faster shutter speed and sharper image.

Please critique and comment.

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Quarry Hill Nature Center, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
April 26, 2014 at 3:49 pm

Pentax K-5
DA* 300mm f/4
1/90s
f/8
iso 100
Tripod

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 4, 2014 at 1:38 PM

"A fill flash would have helped light up the bird's head. This would also have allowed for a faster shutter speed and sharper image."
You might've also tried working at a higher ISO for the > SS Randy.
These little guys are very quick, good job getting this one

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

Comment posted by Bill Kellermeyer on May 4, 2014 at 1:49 PM

Good pose and detail of ruby crown. I would also like to see more of the head but as statated you don't get a long look at these.

Registered on March 19, 2013, 52 Posts, 161 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on May 4, 2014 at 2:12 PM

Nice catch of that Ruby Crown. You have noted the difficulty because the bird moves so quickly, so not a criticism but a "hopeful observation," it would have been nice if the bird had turned its head a bit to the right. (I don't want much, do I?) I would be happy to have an image like this of a bird that has eluded me so far.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 4, 2014 at 5:58 PM

Nice shot of the crown, Randy. I'm surprised you didn't get a bit more dof with a 300mm at f8. I'm not familiar with the Pentax K-5, but most modern digital cameras give you pretty good noise performance up to at least iso500. That would have given you a bit more shutter speed. I just looked at a review of the camera (dpreview), and it looks like it handles noise better than the Canon 7D. I'm not afraid to shoot that one at iso640 with a little noise reduction in post processing.

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

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on May 5, 2014 at 12:58 PM

I think the others have covered most of it. The focus seems good on the eye and shoulder. The beak looks like it is on the edge. I'm guessing a touch of motion at the 1/90 you were shooting at. Good work in getting one at all. They definitely don't stay still.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 5, 2014 at 1:11 PM

Good self critique Randy, but as others have stated a higher ISO would have also helped immensely. I also wish you had a bit more eye contact to grab the viewers attention.

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

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on May 6, 2014 at 11:03 AM

Thank you for the helpful suggestions, everyone. I agree that a higher ISO would have helped. Unfortunately, I have not been satisfied with the noise characteristics of photos taken with the Pentax K-5 with high ISOs, but need to learn to handle it in post-production.

I was able to capture many more images of these little creatures this week, including many with a fill flash. If any look good enough, one may be posted here as well.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments