Golden-crowned Sparrow

[Glenn Bartley]

One from a few weeks back :)

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4553/goldencrownedsparrow09px9.jpg

Camera Model: Canon EOS 40D
Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Aperture: 4
Flash: On - 3 or 4 flashes (cant recall) off camera triggered by ST-E2
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 200
Focal length: 500mm

[John Cooper]

Lovely composition Glenn and great pose by the sparrow. Subject is sharp where it counts and rests on my kind of perch!!!

Glenn was the BG too close for you to use a slightly smaller aperature, say F8 ? This would have allowed a bit more DOF on bird and perch.

[Ian Colley]

Hi Glen, we don't see to many perches like that over here except in heavy rain forest area.

I agree with John's comments, I like the composition and the detail on the birds head, nice use of flash . The detail falls off around the wings and follow John's lead that a smaller aperture mayhave worked a little better.

[David Hemmings]

Just beautiful Glenn, this is a recording:) Love the pose and the comp and the flash looks perfect:D

[Doug Hitchcox]

Great shot Glen! I like that you didn't use a smaller aperture here. I think that it helped keep the bird separate from the perch and shows much more depth. You got the entire head sharp here and I think thats why this works at F4. My only nit is that I wish you could see the birds other leg. Its a stunning shot of a species I have never even seen, in the end, I wish I could get a shot like this.

[Doug Brown]

Great perch and pretty bird. I have to echo the other suggestions that DOF isn't quite there; nothing wrong with ISO 400 on a 40D.

[Glenn Bartley]

John - you hit the nail on the head. The BG was really close and I was trying to maintain a smooth BG. I had another perch also setup that was even worse so f/4 was the choice I made.

All the best!

[Andreas Kanon]

Great setup for this shot. The perch goes very well with the BG and makes the bird stand out nicely.