Clark's Nutcracker

[Nancy Bell]

Photographed this week in Rocky Mountain National Park, at approx. 10,500 ft. There is a large wonderful look-out with a natural stone wall where some birds & chipmunks come to see if you have any handouts. I like to visit places where the birds are habituated to people and I know that my camera will not disturb them in the least.

Canon 1D Mark V, Canon 400 f4 DO, 1/1250, f7.1, ISO 400, exp. comp. -1/3.

Comments and critiques most welcome.

[gareth thomson]

Hi - great portrait at eye level. Exquisite feather detail and I like the iridescence on the shoulder. Exposure looks right on. I checked a couple of spots above the eye w/ mac's digital color meter and they were 244, 242, 234.

[Grace Scalzo]

Interesting portrait, full of detail and a complimentary background. Did you do any bill cleanup? It's remarkably smooth and based on the name of the bird I would expect some signs of nut cracking. :)

[Allen Sklar]

Lovely image but the little bit of color on the shoulder leaves me craving the rest of the bird! Great feather detail and exposure, smooth background.

[gail bisson]

Hi Nancy,
The IQ is excellent. I would like to see a bit more room on the right. Lovely BG.
Even before I read Allen's comment I thought the same thing- would love to see more of the shoulder.
Did you get a vertical?
Gail

[Nancy Bell]

Grace, great observation on bill condition. I did do some bill clean-up! Allen & Gail, I do have more of this bird + other images. My original thought on this crop was that more of the upper part of the bird would make the image top- heavy. But I will experiment. Thank you all for your comments.

[Satish Ranadive]

Gorgeous portrait.Love the beautiful details in colors.Nice BG too.

Regards,
Satish.

[David Salem]

Very nice portrait . Great details and exposure. Nice BG too. Good Work.

[Nico Steenberg]

Well exposed close up detail and smooth bg. Subject feel a tad to central in the frame, may a tad more in frond for him too look in too ? Well done Nancy

[Nancy Bell]

Thank you Satish, David & Nico. Nico, I see what you mean about a bit more in front. Good suggestion.

[Craig Brelsford]

Fine portrait. The mountain light seemed to be getting a little strong; with semi-tame birds such as this one, one can pretty much choose the time of day to shoot, and I'd make sure I was there in the very early morning. I'd move the nutcracker a bit to the right.

[Robert Holguin]

Excellent portrait. Wonderful background, great light, and excellent details.
Well done.