Western Kingbird Snack

Gallery: AvianPosted June 8, 201572 views6 comments

I caught this guy swallowing his snack. Processed using Lightroom 5 and Photoshop CC 2014. I cloned an OOF branch that was behind the bird. Comments and critiques welcome.

Canon 7D Mark II

Canon 200-400 f4 L IS

f5.6

1/800s

ISO 160

Focal Length 560mm (Teleconverter Engaged)

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on June 8, 2015 at 9:45 PM

Hi Jerry,

Nice pose and great details in your capture. You might try to clone out the oof branch tip on the back by the shoulder. The other branch tip seems to be OK................................Jim

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 9, 2015 at 10:24 AM

Hi Jerry:

Cool moment with the bug in the mouth. I like the twigs as they help with environment and framing. The birds head looks a touch soft to me.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on June 10, 2015 at 10:55 PM

Jerry, we must think alike some. I was commenting before getting ready to post a shot of Western Kingbird downing a meal. I will wait so we don't like like hte bopsy twins. sad

Great timing on this. One of my favorite species to photograph because of how active they are. I agree the head does look a touch soft...I personally think that is a result of your shutter speed causing motion blur. I have shot this type of behavior many times and find I usually need minimum of 1/1600 and prefer 1/200 or more, or I get motion blur. Still nice work!

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

Comment posted by Gary Minish on June 11, 2015 at 2:52 AM

A nice stop-action shot, Jerry! It almost looks like the insect is hoding it's mouth open and trying to make a run for it! The only nit I can pick is the little piece of stick coming out of it's upper back. I assume that's the one you cloned out.

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on June 11, 2015 at 7:27 AM

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Kurt, you are correct about the shutter speed. My settings were for a motionless bird. Just prior to this shot, he flew down, grabbed a bug and returned. The 1/800s was not fast enough to freeze him flippiong the bug and swallowing it.