Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

[Alan Murphy]

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Upper Texas Coast

D800, 600, ISO 400, f13, 1/500.

Perch set up over fence line using the techniques in my eBook.

[gail bisson]

The comp is excellent. It can be so hard to get a nice composition with a long tailed bird.
The set-up is beautiful.
Great BG and HA and I like the view of the foot and toes.
I might burn the bright spots in the leaves but that is a minor issue,
Gail

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Stunning! Curious why you shot at f/13. I've never thought of shooting with that small of an aperture. Maybe it's because you were close and wanted enough depth of field? Would f/8 not have been enough? Just curious as that is one of those decisions that I'm just not positive about when I set my aperture.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
Excellent pose, love the perch and background, terrific comp, and nice details.
Very well done.

[Alan Murphy]

Stunning! Curious why you shot at f/13. I've never thought of shooting with that small of an aperture. Maybe it's because you were close and wanted enough depth of field? Would f/8 not have been enough? Just curious as that is one of those decisions that I'm just not positive about when I set my aperture.

Hey Miguel, good question. Since the birds tail is on this side of the perch, I wanted to make sure it was in focus.

[Cheryl Flory]

Alan, why did you go with a very horizontal perch instead of having some angle to it? Do these birds prefer horizontal? Since you placed it above a fence line, I was wondering.

[Satish Ranadive]

Absolutely superb image.Great Composition and IQ.Love the pose,colors,details,lovely perch and nice backdrop.

Regards,
Satish.

[arash_hazeghi]

sweet excellent light perch pose details and techs as usual.

[Alan Murphy]

Alan, why did you go with a very horizontal perch instead of having some angle to it? Do these birds prefer horizontal? Since you placed it above a fence line, I was wondering.

Hey Cheryl, I was trying to mimic the horizontal wire that they were landing on. To angle it, would have lowered my chances of the bird landing on it.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Thanks for the replies Alan!

[Cheryl Flory]

thanks, Alan. That's what I was guessing, but thought I would ask.

[Jon Rista]

Wow, I love that perch! Wonderful composition, especially for a bird with such a long tail. Love the BG.

[Grace Scalzo]

Alan, one of our mutual friends offered the same criticism of this image as you received for your perch placement here. Same reason as you...the birds were used to perching on either a telephone wire or barbed wire and would have nothing to do with angles. I love your composition, perfect for this long-tailed beauty. And the horizontal perch works.


http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...d-Mrs-Bluebird

[Frank Schauf]

Just fantastic, Alan.