Barn Swallow

[David Salem]

While sitting early one morning at a local Avocet spot last summer, I saw this little swallow flying around fairly close by catching flying insects. I noticed him headed back for this branch. I tried to focus on him while he was flying back but couldnt lock on so I swung the camera to the branch, focused on the branch, and fired a burst. Got lucky.

P.S. Not 100% sure on the ID of this one. Couldnt find one in my books or the web with this much rust color. Any thoughts?

1DMKIV---700mm---f5.6---ss1/2500---ISO400---HH@7:15am---20%crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. Appreciated

[John Cooper]

Good anticipation David and you succeeded in getting the image. Lots of impact in this front-on pose and raised wings.
Your prefocus on the perch has ensured sharp focus on the feet and wings but the foreward placed head appears a tad soft, but well seen and taken.

[David Salem]

Thanks John for the comment. I tried lighting up the face a little and cropped a bit tighter right before I posted. Think it degraded the face a bit. Didnt look soft in the original . Dose this look any better.

[John Cooper]

Thanks John for the comment. I tried lighting up the face a little and cropped a bit tighter right before I posted. Think it degraded the face a bit. Didnt look soft in the original . Dose this look any better.

Yes David - the softness was only slight but I think you've nailed it here :)

[PhilCook]

A little soft sadly, but well timed image and like the wings matching the curvature of the branch

[gail bisson]

I love the pose! Excellent light and composition.I still see a bit of softness in the head ( as Albert Froneman said to me on a workshop "it is sharp but not tack sharp").
By the way, you didn't get lucky, you were skilled enough to pre-plan the shot and I am sure you will get him the next time -bump up the ISO to 800 and go to f7.1 or 8!
Gail

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Very nicely timed, but I agree that the softness is there. Just enough to notice it. I agree with gail about bumping the ISO up a bit to get more dof.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

David have to agree with more DOF, would try F11 next time. I love the pose though, better luck next time.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yes, a little soft on the head but you got a terrific pose and I love the thin curved perch. To answer your question, this is a Barn Swallow. The other swallows that have a superficially similar colour scheme do not have a heavily forked tail like this.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments .
Thanks Gail for the encouraging words and the tip.
Thanks Daniel for the ID .Thought that's what it was but wanted to make sure.

This picture looks pretty good on the original file maybe a bit dark in the head but I think after downsizing and some post production work it lost a little clarity to the head.. :(

[Karl Egressy]

Fast thinking and acting, David. The end result is a great landing shot.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, not easy to capture, but you have nailed the timing in this. I like how the line of the top of the wings follow the line of the perch. I do like the colours on the head, and agree, a little more sharpening on the head will work.

[James Fuller]

Cool pose on a fast moving bird!