Juvi Spruce Grouse

Gallery: AvianPosted May 2, 201559 views6 comments

One from last summer when Josiah and I came across two family groups of Spruce Grouse making their way along the base of the mountains. We had found a few families earlier when the juvi's were more fluffy and far more difficult to get clear views of in the grass. We were most pleased when this teenaged grouse stepped out to survey things before crossing a meadow area and returning back to the trees.

This one is full-frame with the tripod flattened down to the ground.

Larger version available by clicking the image above...your comments and suggestion are most welcome (and appreciated).

Nikon D600

Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4D IF-ED

ISO 800

1/800sec @ f/4

-0.3 EV

tripod mounted

Pretty close to straight from RAW with minor tweaks to brightness and contrast. Full frame.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on May 2, 2015 at 6:39 AM

Hey John another cool shot, cracking detail in he plumage, another species similar to our Red Grouse. Personally I would prefer a sliver more space below if you have it, perhaps the same again to the height of you © bar/strip? Like the habitat.

TFS

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 2, 2015 at 8:57 AM

Really like the natural habitat/setting that includes a piece of blue sky John.

Great comp, POV, details, natural color, and use of f/4 to soften the BG nicely..

Well done! devil

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 2, 2015 at 9:01 AM

Really like the environment in this image. The soft pastel colors all work well together. I too would like to see a bit more room on the bottom of the frame. Very nice.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 2, 2015 at 11:20 AM

A great setting and nice to get her out in the open like this John, a touch more space at the bottom for me too. devil

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 2, 2015 at 10:44 PM

Perfect place to catch it, John. The slope really adds to the composition. You managed to get great eye contact. My only minor nit is that the grass stem about 1/4 way in from the left that sticks above the rest keeps trying to draw my eye. If you want to follow Steve's composition suggestion, you can always add a stripof canvas to the bottom the same height as your copyright bar.

devil

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 3, 2015 at 9:39 AM

Lovely composition John. I like the colors in the image as well, tack sharp Grouse with a nice catch-light in the eye. I couldn'c come up with any improvement cool , Best, Hans

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