The Pyrrhuloxia (male) is probably one of my favorite species. The rich, red mask and throat as well as the bright yellow beak and its unique shape. All that will the mohawk effect, it all works for me.
I had not seen one in person prior to our time at the Santa Clara ranch in S. Texas and this handsome fella came to enjoy some of the black sunflower seeds.
R5
600mm
RRS Tripod
ISO 4000
1/1600
f4
LR and PS, NI for noise. Blended a small area in bkg where a faint bunny ear was poking up.
09-02-2022, 10:56 AM
Dorian Anderson
Great look at this southwestern specialty. Love the curious head turn, and the yellow beak really cracks in the green surrounds. Detail is excellent across the subject. Crop/comp is perfect. Would like a bit more DOF on the perch, but you were really up against it on light at f/4 AND ISO 4000!
09-02-2022, 11:22 AM
Andreas Liedmann
Hi Mr Sump .. great to see you posting .
Lovely looking subject and I specially like the tilted head , maybe checking the food source behind the perch ???
Nicely captured and processed and I do love the BG , being soft and still have some color variations . Details and sharpness ... just superb .
Only thing I might consider is ... burning the top of the perch , it falls in the same tonal range as the subject in parts .... just a thought
Enjoyed viewing and TFS Andreas
09-02-2022, 02:33 PM
Joseph Przybyla
Hi Brian, love the image. I echo the previous positive comments. Beautiful colors, nice feather detail, interesting perch and pure background. Thank you for sharing.
09-03-2022, 07:17 PM
Kurt Bowman
Sweet image Brian! Love the detail, the color, the head turn, etc...all nice! No nits from a post of one of my favorite birds
09-07-2022, 12:27 PM
Brian Sump
Appreciate the comments all.
Andreas, interestingly I did burn the top 20% or so of highlights using TK so they weren't so bright - you can see the lighter areas that have a touch of a gray hue (i.e. around the top and diagonally down to the left below subject's feet). Can see your viewpoint, maybe some other selective lum adjustments there.
09-07-2022, 12:42 PM
Andreas Liedmann
Brian ... I would burn that area as dark as the bottom of the perch ....
09-09-2022, 05:25 AM
Arthur Morris
DATPCA. Especially love the creamy BKGR. One thing bugs me a lot and I am surprised that nobody mentioned it: the very light tan area of BKGR that shows through on the middle of the lower frame-edge, right below the bird. My eye goes there every time that I try to focus on the gorgeous face.
with love, artie
09-10-2022, 08:40 AM
Jonathan Ashton
Superb image fantastic colours and details. My only suggestion would be to soften the focus on the left part of the log. Having said that I think really I am saying it looks quite predominant so as mentioned darkening the other parts of the log would do the trick.
09-10-2022, 10:16 AM
William Dickson
Another beauty Brian....Again I really like the contrast and colours....That facial expression is priceless.....Lovely detail on the bird and a great pose....Yes, the oof part of the perch does draw the eye.....But, the facial expression on the bird sure draws it back again....Nice one.