This is why they call me Horned Lark

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Photographed in a local field yesterday. Because of the snow I had to dial in quite a bit of positive exposure compensation.

http://www.pbase.com/axelhi/image/120727513/original.jpg

1D3, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/500s, f/11, EC +1.33, ISO 400, cropped from horizontal

[Phil Ertel]

Hi Axel, I can't think of a better pose to show off this bird's features. The view of the horns makes this image for me. I like how you have place the bird's head in frame. Your exposure looks good and image appears sharp. Thanks for sharing.

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

The horns and dark eye patches make him look pretty mean.

Nice shooting angle, like being able to see the feet.

For my tastes the bird could go a bit brighter perhaps, while keeping the snow where its at exposure wise.

Cheers

Randy

[Sid Garige]

Axel,

Terrific pose. Never seen an on your face image of these guys.

Agree with Randy on snow exposure. I would keep it where it was to get some texture in snow and brighten the bird.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Great eye contact and pose make this for me. Nice job on tough exposure situation.

[Arthur Morris]

Everything looks great to me tonality wise. This series killed me last year and now you are doing it again. A spectacular "horn shot."

Is this from a horizontal original?

[Myer Bornstein]

Alex
Great shot of the "HORNS" none of my larks would show them

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Everything looks great to me tonality wise. This series killed me last year and now you are doing it again. A spectacular "horn shot."

Is this from a horizontal original?

Thanks, Artie! It's quite convenient to have these birds 15 minutes from my place.

Yes, the original is horizontal.

[Ilija Dukovski]

Great one, I can't say I actually have ever seen the "horn" this well in the field.
I'd crop a bit off the bottom. Otherwise it is excellent.

[ChasMcRae]

A 2nd year of great Horned Lark shots.
What makes the image to me are the "up" horns and the frontal view.
Symmetry of the position of the "en face" is great.

[Doug Rodda]

Just about perfect in my opinion.

[Linda Dulak]

Axel: I love this shot as I've never seen one in such a face on shot. Great exposure as always!

Linda

[adrian dancy]

This is a superb image...nothing to fault.

[Dan Busby]

Beautiful Axel - this one will stand the test of time!

[Ofer Levy]

Nice shot. I like the horns. Could be a bit brighter overall IMO.

[denise ippolito]

Axel, I like the pose and the horns showing. Nicely done.

[Gloria Hopkins]

Couldn't help but smile BIG when I saw this. What a GREAT bird.

[Bryan Erb]

Really like the down the barrel of the lens look, which shows off the horns nicely. Looks good to me as posted.

[Stu Bowie]

You couldnt have asked for a better angle and pose to show off the horns. Excellent exposure all round, and love the pastel coloured BG.

[Hendri Venter]

Hey Axel,

Lovely image. Perfect exposure against a bright BG. Pose and angle perfect too as mentioned.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, much appreciated as always. I experimented with lightening the bird but didn't like the results too much, probably because it was overcast when I made this image.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Interesting look of this bird!

Those ''horns'' gives this guy a ''bad'' feeling, lol.

Nice pose, light and BG. Nice patterns on face and breast.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Axel, loved the head-on pose and the exposure. Very well done.

[Cindy Mead]

the head-on pose shows off his signature horns well here Axel. I like the fine details you captured in his plumage and your exposure looks fine on my end. Well done!

[Marina Scarr]

What an awesome captpure of this Lark. I have never seen it with its horns up. I imagine it was overcast when you photographed this which is why it's a tad darker. I like it and it makes the bird look a bit more ominous...with horns and all!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

What an awesome captpure of this Lark. I have never seen it with its horns up. I imagine it was overcast when you photographed this which is why it's a tad darker. I like it and it makes the bird look a bit more ominous...with horns and all!

Thanks, Marina! Yes, it was a cloudy day and no sun when I made this image.