Sparrow - Bosque

[Ian Cassell]

I don't know my sparrows ... ID would be appreciated

Canon 7D
Canon 500/4 + 1.4X handheld
1/1600 sec f/6.3 ISO 500


Crop for comp, levels in CS6

[Don Nelson]

Imm. white crowned sparrow

[Paul Guris]

If that bill color is reasonably accurate, it might be the coastal Gambell's race of White-crowned.

I know many of the top photographers on here have a very strong preference for natural perches, but I think the effect you obtained is really different. I find it a lot more interesting than another twig.

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, Paul and Don. Colors here I think reflect what I saw. The guy was on a nice little shrub with a bunch of his friends and, just as I was about to click the shutter, bounced onto the handrail to the observation platform at the pond on the marsh loop.

[David Kenny]

Ian,

I really like the how sharp the photo is and how you can see the line across the handrail from the depth of field.

[Diane Miller]

I can't help with the ID but this is an amazing demonstration of DOF -- I wouldn't have expected such a sharp transition in focus.

Nice portrait -- nice light and I don't mind the perch -- it is different with this shallow view.

[Iain Barker]

Nice picture Ian

Nice composition and I don't mind the perch.

Iain

[Bryan Munn]

I think it looks great. Interesting lighting. I normally don't like songbirds photographed facing the camera like that, because it tends to make them look kind of ...awkward. Yours doesn't for some reason.

As others have said, I don't know how you managed the DOF. I have been shooting a lot of White Crowned Sparrows on my property the past couple of weeks, and in shots like yours where the face is "straight on", I always wind up with either the face of the body soft. Did you crop the picture much?