To late for the dance

[laurie golden]

I spent last week looking for Sooty Grouse displaying at Mt Rainier Washington. They called but not one did a full tail spread dance for me. It must be a little late in the season. A couple of males were willing to let me get close for some head shots.

Nikon D3S, 200-400 f4 lens at 400mm
ISO 800, F9, 1/400 sec
Manual Exposure

[Melissa Groo]

Laurie, what an incredible image! and extraordinary creature! I haven't seen this before. Such a wonderful portrait you've made! I love the IQ, the background, the level of detail, and your composition. Can't think of anything I would change. Just stunning. Can't stop looking at it.

[dankearl]

Unbelievably cool photo and a first for me also.
Where on Mt Rainier?
Wild behavior shot, I did not even know grouse would be in an alpine region like Rainier?
Excellent.

[laurie golden]

Dan,

There are usually a few on the road to Paradise - close to the top. And they mostly stay close to the road because that is the only place without snow. A week earlier and they would have been more active.

[PhilCook]

Just wonderful !....what a weird looking bird ! nothing to change on this fine shot

[Jack Breakfast]

What's not to love? All the best, Laurie...you've done it again! The bizarro pulchritude of this crude beast is making me go crazy with badness! I am in love!!

[christopher galeski]

very nice image,sharp good details,well done.

[arash_hazeghi]

wow what an interesting bird. great details and light

[Joe Senzatimore]

Absolutly stunning!!!! Just a bit too much canvas on the right side.

[Ofer Levy]

Superb IQ and such an interesting head shot. I never do or recommend a square crop but in here I see no alternative as the right half of the frame should go IMHO.
EDIT: got back to this lovely image and I think the composition can stay as it is as the tight square alternative is not great anyhow...

[Rachel Hollander]

Laurie - this is both interesting and great! Excellent detail!

TFS,
Rachel

[Doug Brown]

Love this frame Laurie! Cool bird, perfect head angle, and excellent detail.

[Grace Scalzo]

Laurie, You have created a beautiful and interesting image. Great subject, detail, nice light.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Laurie, you have captured excellent detail and colours here, and with good eye contact. Sharp where it counts, and I do like the BG. A fine image.

[Robert Holguin]

Beautiful shot. Excellent comp, very nice background, excellent details, and very nice lihgt.
Well done.

[Mike McCarthy]

Quite a nice display of texture & color. Nice portrait.

[laurie golden]

Thank you all for your comments. I must admit that I have photographed this bird several times over the last few years - that helps a lot in understanding his behavior and how to shoot him and the light was right for this shot this time where mostly it as been drab and rainy (or sleet and snow) on Mt Rainier.

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image Laurie! I like the details, sharpness, lighting and BG.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Wow, this is wonderful!! Great techs, colours, comp, behaviour. You could opt to remove the small strand in front of the red eyebrow, but certainly not a deal breaker. Congrats on this very beautiful image!!