Once in a Lifetime +repost

Gallery: AvianPosted August 27, 2014236 views10 comments

Grasshopper Warbler
Nothing special about this shot but something I doubt many have seen. I have waited years to do this species and the site we foundwas in deep green cover in marsh land. The birds are extreemely un co operative and move so fast - hence the high shutterspeed. Then- the bird did something I,ve never seen before -it started sunbathing right in front of me. It sat rock still for 5 minutes. I didn't have the wherewithall to alter the camera settings. The light was atrocious- coming straight at the camera and catching every paale coloured stem in site. Still it was something worth seeing !Some will not like the messy backdrop but if I start playing too much it will end up a mess.! I thought the reed stems above made a nice kind of frame !!

Hide.
Hand held. VR on
Nikon D7100
Nikor 50-300mm
ISO 500
800thsec @ f9
Contrast down in camera EV normal
Crop from landscape.
Cheers

JohnR

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 27, 2014 at 6:36 PM

Wonderful image, John. I have no objections at all to the reedy bg. If I really wanted to do anything to this, I might think about toning down the bright slanted reed under the bird, but it doesn't distract enough to be a serious issue. That's a fantastic pose.

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on August 27, 2014 at 7:25 PM

Thanks Dennis
I was thinking about it !
I,ll have a bash.
Thanks
John

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on August 27, 2014 at 9:05 PM

Cool shot John,

That bird was daring you to change your camera settings. I'd leave the background as is---it reveals the challenges that you encountered for the shot. Pose and lighting are wonderful

............................................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on August 27, 2014 at 9:07 PM

Well I tried it !
Jim thanks .
Our posts crossed.
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on August 28, 2014 at 12:46 AM

Certainly an interesting behavioral image. Reminds me of a bird shot thru the heart and laying dead on the ground with the head thrown back and a wing outstretched. Like the repost but the original was pretty good in its own right. I think your adjustments are right on and certainly belongs in your keeper file. Not to mention that this was a "first" of kind for your camera and lens. Nice job.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 28, 2014 at 8:41 AM

Excellent job on the repost, John. I really like both versions, though I do think I prefer the latter. It still has all the environment but without the distraction. A perfect balance for my taste.

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

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on August 28, 2014 at 2:56 PM

That dark spot in upper left corner is a tiny bit distracting for me. Otherwise, I think this is spectacular.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on August 30, 2014 at 5:53 PM

I think this a marvelous shot for the conditions you describe. What a cute pose! Congrats on getting the shot of your sought-after species; very exciting, I'm sure!
P.S. Just noticed the repost-- well done!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on August 31, 2014 at 3:09 PM

Yes this pose is realy once in lifetime, excellent pose, excellent capture.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by Tjie Poo on September 5, 2014 at 2:52 AM

What a pose ! Excellent capture !

Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments