Dressed up for Mothers Day

[Randy Stout]

This nice male rose breasted grosbeak, is one of 3 or 4 hanging around my feeders. Sometimes 3 of them will try to hit the same feeder at a time, which always makes for some fun squabbles.

This particular fellow sat so pretty for me. His plumage is about as good as it gets in my experience for these fellows. Some of the younger males have more white flecking in their black areas, particularly the head.

D300 500mm f/4 at 7.1 1/640s ISO 640 -.7 EV SB800 with beamer -1.3 Gitzo Wim V2

NX2 post

Comments always appreciated.

Randy

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hello Randy!

Very nice image of this bird. Lovely BG and pose. I only find the compo. too tight for me. I would suggest adding canvas all around and may be to tone down the perch a bit.

Color rendition in this one is hard to be believed!

[Randy Stout]

Juan:

Thanks for your comments. I have lots of canvas here, and in fact my original go had about 15% more on all sides, but I couldn't really appreciate some of the fine detail in the bird, so cropped it tighter to increase his size in the frame.

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, I think you are right.

No sat. boost in this guy. This is how he really looks in the soft light.

Randy

[Stu Bowie]

Randy, I feel your comp is fine, although having said that, a little more on left would help. Excellent exposure on both the blacks and reds, two of the most difficult colours to get right. This is nice and sharp too. Well captured.

[Mike Lentz]

The light and BG are fantastic, Randy. I too feel its a little tight, but thats personal preference.

[Randy Stout]

OK folks>

Here is the original looser crop. Let me know what you think, tight vs. loose?

Thanks

Randy

[Stu Bowie]

Hey Randy, the little extra on the left works for me in your repost (original ), but as far as the bottom is concerned, I would stick to your post on top.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the wider crop, head angle, BG and details. Good-looking specimen, too.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Really like the repost Randy. As already mentioned excellent exposure and lovely detail and pose. Congratulations on a beautiful image.

[Fabs Forns]

Lovely bid with great BG. Your original crop is much better to my tastes.
Very sharp and well exposed.

[Paul Marcellini]

Great bird. I like it looser too. Specs looks great though, nice and sharp. I love the color combo of this too.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hey Randy!

I will stay with your repost. Great image.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I much prefer the looser crop. Perfect exposure. Great looking individual with a large bright bib (I see lots of them up with fainter, incomplete ones). Have you thought about using the patch tool on the the white particles on the head and face?

[Randy Stout]

Daniel:

The white areas are actually feathers that haven't completely turned black yet. Yes, I can clean them up a bit.

Of the three or four males I have here, this fellow is the best looking, best blacks and nicest bib.

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

The second post is better IMO, the extra room helps a lot, nice pose, BG, colors, light, perch, detail, and exppsure! Congratulations!

[Chris Kotze]

Beautiful colour and super exposure and BG