Canon 1D4
500mm +1.4x
Taken out the car window resting on ledge
1/200 sec
f/5.6
ISO 800
Taken in Fort Myers last month from my car at the end of an overcast day. I was glad to see this Loggerhead Shrike on something other than a fence railing or post. I learned recently that shrikes are our only predatory songbird. They are not a bird of prey, they are a passerine. They sure seem to have found their particular niche.
I liked the background here almost more than the bird. Some crop, and a bit of filling in of a whitish spot in the center background. Sharpening.
Thanks a lot in advance for all comments and critiques.
Last edited by Melissa Groo; 02-20-2013 at 07:53 PM.
LOvely shot and I agree it is a great bg. Nice to see the bird with no little sticks or anything obstructing it. It must have been tempting to look at a vertical crop as well. I really like this look myself.
This is very very nice.
I just love the BG colors especially that lovely teal color and the yellows. The thin branches look great as well.
I like the position of the tail.
Your comp is excellent and I love the feel of this image. It has just the right amount of environment included.I might take a bit off the RHS to the edge of sharp branches.
I see a bit of cloning artifact around the tall branch just to the left of the bird.
I would also sharpen the shrike a bit more around the eye only.
really nice Melissa,
Gail
I really like these kind of photo's, with the birds in their environment.
I agree on just a bit more sharpening on the bird and maybe just a bit lower in the frame.
As you say, the BG color is so nice, a bit more of the blue/green color on top would look nice for me.
Liking the setting in this Melissa, and head angle of the bird, would also work nicely as a vertical closer crop, but the inclusion of the whispy branches and subtle color backdrop work nicely to bring it all together to make a rather nice presentation...sweet looking little bird despite it's seemingly Dr Jeckyl and Mr Hyde persona
Always like to read a bit of info on birds, interesting ..... it has a hooked beak a little like what we call a Butcher Bird here, also one that preys on small birds and had a beautiful flute like song.
Absolutely love the environmental feel to this one and the composition you chose really showcases this image and your subject well. Like the layer of color in your BG.
I absolutely love the composition and pose on this image. I think we are so used to seeing tighter crops, that when a capture like this presents itself I know I would have been inclined to crop further. I'm glad you did not!
Even with all of the branches, you were able to isolate the shrike very well. Nicely done!
Melissa, I see what you mean about the bg -- it's lovely indeed. And great look-back from the shrike. I'm glad you chose to present this with some environmental context, but I could also see a second version as vertical. Nicely captured.
Melissa you did what has so far eluded me; those fine feathers on the back always cause me problems, yours not so.
The composition is really lovely, and so much like the Cistus sticks around me here. The local Southern Grey Shrikes are very similar indeed!
The Predatory Songbird
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