Cedar Waxwing & Recrop

Gallery: AvianPosted June 6, 2017213 views13 comments

We had some hazy skies yesterday evening allowing for earlier than normal mellow light, so I spent some time in the back yard to see what might come in. I was lucky enough to have a pair of waxwings come to the pond, though only one of them seemed to bathe. They spent quite a bit of time hanging around until a Coopers Hawk flew by and everyone departed in a hurry. I believe this is a first year bird.

7Dii, Sigma 150-600 C @ 388 mm, hand held, f/8, 1/1000, iso 800, manual exposure. Processed in LR & PS CC. Cropped to a 14.2 MP 4x5. Some cloning on the bg to remove bright oof foreground grasses. Taken at 7:18 PM on June 5th.

Your comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on June 7, 2017 at 7:04 AM

Very nice Dennis, the waxwing really pops with that wonderful muted green BG. devil

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on June 7, 2017 at 10:35 AM

A nice close look at a Waxwing. I like the head turn and the color and details look good. Nicely composed with the positioning of the perch and bird and the contrasting background.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Skip Layman on June 7, 2017 at 11:09 AM

I love the way you captured the subtle colors and details of the lovely bird. I would have cropped this to a vertical, but it is very nice as is.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 558 Posts, 1704 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 7, 2017 at 12:09 PM

That lens serves you well, and you get good results hand holding it. Nice detail on the head; very nice colors in the waxwing and background.

The composition, however, seems a bit unbalanced. The position at the end of thr branch seems to push the bird into the center of the frame, but cropping away more empty space on the left doesn't help, either. Can you re-crop as a vertical?

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on June 7, 2017 at 12:48 PM

Hi Dennis
The head turn and detail are great. I know the Waxwing is the center of the frame, and maybe a trim on the left would move it off center, but i like the frameing anyway.
Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on June 7, 2017 at 2:50 PM

Man, this is nice light, great head turn and back side pose Dennis. The background is quite complimentary too. I like it as posted but also wonder if a vertical crop might improve this even more? I love Waxwings! devil

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 7, 2017 at 4:46 PM

Here's a very quick recrop.

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

Comment posted by David Bogener on June 7, 2017 at 5:53 PM

Very nice handheld image with an over the shoulder pose and solid eye contact. Really pops nicely off that dark green background. I never know quite how to compose this sort of image and normally end up where you did with the bird. It looks like this might hold up well to a vertical comp as Keith suggests?

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on June 7, 2017 at 6:21 PM

Well I think this is really excellent. I like the color and the lighting. I like your perch. I thought about the comment that Richard Ditch made and I can see his point, since I am open to alternative views. But I still like it. I got a real nice shot last year but the perch was my garden fence so I didn't post the image. Hopefully you can send them my way.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on June 7, 2017 at 8:08 PM

I like the recrop-an even closer look at the Waxwing. This would probably make an attractive entry at NPPNW.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on June 7, 2017 at 9:14 PM

A very nice capture, Dennis. An image I would love to have in my files. This species has alluded me for a long time. You captured a great headturn showing off that crown of feathers and the black mask. Superb detail. I like both crop versions, maybe favor the vertical a bit more.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on June 7, 2017 at 11:20 PM

I think I like the original best here Dennis. You have such smooth, rich tones and a really nice BG. The branch holds interest on it's own. The only thing I might consider would be a slight crop leaving all but the last branch and a touch off the top to raise the cedar waxwing in the frame. I like the space the bird is looking into.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on June 10, 2017 at 10:13 AM

Wonderful pose of this Waxwing.The perch isn't bad either... Yes, I am slightly jealous enlightened

- excellent shot devil

. Cheers, Hans

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