Goldfinch Blur

Attachment 81530

Here is a goldfinch blur during snow storm that I shot last winter at my backyard set-up.

f5.6 @ 1/80 sec.
ISO 200

Look forward to comments.

Andrew, I can't imagine how killer this would have been if your focus point was on the face and not the branch. It is still a fun image and I like motion in the wings.:)I love snow and birds!

Nice blur, Andrew. The colors are wonderful. Those snowflakes are interesting. Agree with Denise, this would have been a killer image if the focus was on face.

Thanks Denise and Indranil for your comments. Very much appreciated. When I shoot birds at my set-up I usually focus on the perch so my 80-400 VR lens doesn't have to work too hard to find focus - it is very slow. This goldfinch landed and took off in an instant. I was wondering today if I should try blurring the branch a bit?

I love this a ton. I am not so sure that the face was not on the plane of sharpest focus and is blurred only because of the motion. Why? The lowest sharpest branch seems to be a bit forward.... Maybe yes, maybe no. I never get these with the whole bird in the frame....

Andrew, I love all the action here - driving snow and tiny wings of fury! What I really like is the blur pattern made by the wing bars. Very cool!

Arthur, thanks for your comments. Very much appreciated. If I recall correctly that lowest branch may have been a little forward. Most likely due to slow reflexes I get lots of nice shots of empty perches :o. I am wondering about trying my SB400 for a little fill flash this year. I normally use it for macro work, but since the blind is only 8-9 feet from the set-up I am thinking it may be useful - for a catch light anyway.

Thanks Kerry for your kind words.

Andrew, what an interesting combination of elements in a relatively simple subject/situation. Really enjoy how this depicts nature. Thanks so much for sharing this!