Dark-eyed Junco juvenile

[Diane Miller]

At least I'm pretty sure that's the correct ID. Attracted to a feeder. Diffusion screen to soften direct sunlight.

Canon 5D Mk III, 300mm II + 1.4X III. Big Gitzo with Wimberley II. ISO 1250, f/14, 1/160 sec. 53% of full frame. Basic LR adjustments then to PS CS 6 for cloning some very small details on the perch, sharpening, NR and further color tweaking.

Lighter areas on the edge of the body that look like clumsy masking are just natural rimlight. I didn't darken or change color on the BG, which is a distant tree.

Without keeping a dead specimen next to the computer under a "correct" light source, color can be a guess in a subject like this with no area that is truly neutral. I've tried putting a gray card out in the same light and shooting it as the light changes, or including it in a corner of the frame where it can be cloned out. But I have two"official" gray cards and one is cooler than the other. Frustrating. Auto WB often looks better.

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent IQ and nice pose, Diane.

[Girish Prahalad]

lovely portrait! excellent DOF, details, perch & BG.

[Satish Ranadive]

Diane, this is absolutely superb image. Very nice background.
Love the pose,colors,details,perch and composition.
Would crop on LHS and little on bottom and top.

Regards,
Satish.

[Don Lacy]

Hi Diane, Nice pose and comp the lichen covered perch is a nice addition also.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Diane, cool inquisitive pose, on a lovely curved perch. Great DOF on the bird, and the feather detail shows up nicely. I do like the BG.

[Diane Miller]

Thanks, everyone! I thought about cropping tighter -- never sure how best to balance the bird's size in the frame. I'd love to get the head out of the center, but hate to crowd the tail or the lichen.

Can anyone confirm the ID?

[Shawn Zierman]

I can't confirm the ID, but it sure looks like you are right to me. Really cool to see them in this plumage too, as it is so different than their adult plumage. Very nice light quality here and I also enjoy the perch quality and character. Would not mind seeing a slightly lower shooting angle, i.e. lower the perch...though it's not bad, that's just a personal preference.

[Diane Miller]

Thanks, Shawn. Good point about the perch. I have a narrow angle to work with due to a deck railing several ft behind it. I could raise the camera and stand behind it instead of sitting (could make a hole at the top of the blind) but I have a comfortable perch for myself, too. The birds don't often pose on the perch for more than a second or two, so nice to be right behind the camera. I'm already on a stool with somewhat more height than a chair. Will work on that idea, though -- it's a good one.

These birds seem to be migratory here (60 mi NW of San Francisco). We had a lot last fall and suddenly one day they were all gone. Now only a few are around. (Or the neighbor's cat has discovered them. They seem to have a high tolerance of my presence. One got in the house one day and it let me pick it up and take it outside!)