Evening Grosbeaks migrate through New Mexico every year. But yesterday was the first time I ever had an opportunity to photograph them. The conditions were challenging; a bright BG and a perch in the shade. The birds didn't stay on the perch more than a couple of seconds. I came away with a few good frames, and had a great time! BTW I am posting my first image using my iPad; I hope I didn't screw anything up!
Canon 1D Mark IV, 500mm, f/7.1, 1/320, ISO 400, -1/3 EC, fill flash, tripod
05-24-2010, 10:51 AM
Kaustubh Deshpande
Doug, this is spectacular. You must've been really close to the bird. Loved the details...especially the bill texture. Awesome perch and BG.
05-24-2010, 11:31 AM
Dumay de Boulle
Good flash work and lovely bg. Colors and sharp detail take it over the top...Nice one Doug
05-24-2010, 11:32 AM
Dumay de Boulle
Seems as though the IPAD worked perfectly.
05-24-2010, 11:38 AM
Stu Bowie
Great close up Doug, and I like the curved perch across the image. The fill flash has turned out well. Great work.
05-24-2010, 12:33 PM
Peter Farrell
Very nice pose, BG and perch. Nice detail. It looks like he just polished his beak.
Peter
05-24-2010, 12:44 PM
Myer Bornstein
Nice picture, love the pose and perch. I have not seen an evening Grosebeak in 23 years, lucky you
05-24-2010, 12:48 PM
Karl Egressy
Nice shot, Doug. The head and beak are very sharp, and the colors are nice. I wish for a bit more DOF.
05-24-2010, 02:32 PM
Ed Schneider
Masterful flash work, Doug.... I have so much to learn. And I've yet to see this once common bird:cool:
05-24-2010, 02:46 PM
Krijn Trimbos
Excellent species, and great job on the exposure under difficult circumstances. I do wish for a more interesting perch, although I would still take this in a heartbeat. Great job Doug!
05-24-2010, 03:30 PM
Jim Fenton
I haven't seen one of these since I was a teen Doug...long time ago!
I think you did excellent with the given conditions and the FF is just right.
I would have liked a bit more DOF to pick up the tail, all of the perch and the back leg.It looks as though the background was far enough away that you could have gotten away with it without messing with the nice smooth BG?
The bill appears to have a green cast...is ir real of picked up from the BG?
05-24-2010, 04:13 PM
Ed Schneider
Jim- the males' bills are greenish during breeding season (I've read).
05-24-2010, 08:33 PM
Doug Brown
Hi Jim. The beak does have a greenish cast to it when you see it in person. You and several others make a good point about DOF. I could have stopped down a little because the BG was quite far away. I was hoping for more of a profile pose, but never got one; that would have cured my DOF problem also. With the bird angled the way it was, I doubt I could've gotten the entire bird in focus regardless of my aperture setting. But I could definitely have gotten better focus on the bird's front leg. Thanks for weighing in!
05-26-2010, 09:45 AM
Dan Brown
Great bird, BG, and sharpness Doug! I need a shot of this guy for my little contest! I'm at 294 currently!