Another Tufted Titmouse

Gallery: AvianPosted March 26, 2015158 views5 comments

Thanks for your comments on my previous post of a Tufted Titmouse. Here's a different take on this species. I like the stronger light reflected from the snow cover in this shot, as well as the better background. I think the head turn is nice, but I am wondering about the body angle hiding the most of the characteristic ID features. Is it more important to show more of the bird, or just go for "cute"?

Canon 7D Mark II; 100-400mm.
1/500 sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 1250
(shot using an Acratech GP ballhead in "gimbal" mode)

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on March 26, 2015 at 1:14 PM

Good look at the bird with a nice background -- like the body angle -- not too fond of the oof branch in front of the bird

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 26, 2015 at 2:56 PM

To answer your last question: I always tell people that any shot by default is not only good or bad. Actually the only one really to judge is you. If you managed to capture what you wanted, then the picture is 'good'. An ID shot for a bird guide is totally different from a shot where you want to include surroundings, interaction, or whatever...
My first thought when seeing the image was: it could have used some more room around the bird, since it's a tiny bird and that usually shows better when smaller in the frame. Other than that I like the head turn, the pose and the surrounding foliage. Hoop this helps to answer your question

, cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 26, 2015 at 5:13 PM

First, after trying to get good images of this bird, I have come to think any in focus image of tufted titmouse is a good photo, as it this one! It does seem that the bird is a bit off balance as if it was getting ready to fly. I do find the OOF stuff in the LRC to be a slight distraction. Thanks for sharing, I do like the photo.

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

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on March 26, 2015 at 7:14 PM

Go for the cute - definitely!!! Great image, Wayne!

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 26, 2015 at 11:25 PM

Depends on the purpose of the image, Wayne. If you're trying to get images for a field guide, showing the relevant parts of the body is important. If you're taking images as "art" that becomes totally irrelevant in my opinion and cute will trump it every time. A very "cute" titmouse-excellent image.

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