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Thread: Bullfinch (m)

  1. #1
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Default Bullfinch (m)

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Camera Model Name Canon EOS-1D X
    Canon 100-400L IS II & 1.4TC III
    Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/2000
    Av (Aperture Value) 8.0
    Exposure Compensation 0
    ISO Speed 1000

    The light is so brief it's not worthwhile travelling at present so I resorted to the garden hide for a few shots.
    The bird was baited with sunflower hearts, he was suggesting to a great tit that he cleared off it as it was his turn to feed!

    All C&C welcome.

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Jon:

    He does indeed look a bit peeved. Strong pose, calling, smooth bg, well exposed.

    I could see a sliver off the top.

    The perch is nicely scaled. The portion on the right does act as a leading line back to the bird.

    Cheers

    Randy
    MY BPN ALBUMS

    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Jon, the perch is not great, but reflects well the time of year sadly, however the scale works well with the subject. Killer backdrop which separates the subject nicely and that almost 'Salmon' red plumage pop nicely. I like the side elevation, but it's the lower beak I'm not going a bundle on, is it remnants of a sunflower? Did you apply any NR, as the KHS of the branch is so smooth and tails of very quickly in definition, just curious.

    Not sure if it's a dust bunny or just a light patch, RHS about an inch in, almost parallel with the head?


    The light is so brief it's not worthwhile travelling at present
    Yep, agree on that Jon, within 40 minutes of leaving the house is gorgeous light, the heavens just opened up on the Moors, and that is a bleak place to be with the winds too, although the Grouse are showing up nicely.

    TFS
    Steve

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    As already said the Bullfinch stands out with that background and the colours look spot on. I like the pose with the bird scolding another over food no doubt.
    Maybe the out of focus parts of the branch a little distracting but overall a very good image considering the weather were having lately.

    Graham.

  5. #5
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Thanks Randy & Steve. The light patch is where the perch on the feeding station was, I could have done a better job of the cloning and patching. the bill is about as clean as they come round here Steve - he hadn't been on the feeder recently. No noise reduction was applied, the perch curves quite significantly.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Cheers Jon, goes to show how good the 1DX is, just been trying to get some RAWs from the MKII just to see, but already committed.

    Hope the rest of the week opens up for you, at least only Scotland got the snow, nothing South or West sadly, sorry Will .

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    Lovely study Jon, bullies are such gorgeous birds,i always love seeing them in the spring ahh they leave enough buds for us. Jon it's a wonderful shot one I'd aspire too cracking background tones show him so well and I adore the detail.I am unsure whether Steve's eyes have drawn me to the bill Jon which is the only niggle I can find, it just looks strange to me ,the only way I can put it,I just love the scolding/ shout,it adds so much for me.

    Hmm not so bad from the garden

    Stu

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    Hi John, the colours and composition are great. This red really stands out. I like the perch a lot. It's so natural and I think it completes the image quite well.
    Congrats!

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    All mppoints been covered more or less Jon Seems a tiny bit "harsh" to me but no bone breaker. Saw my first in front of the lens for ages yesterday.
    Cheers
    John

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    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
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    What a fab looking pose on this Bullfinch Jon. Nice colours and details. As already mentioned, the perch is an issue.

    Will

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Thanks very much everyone, looks like I may be confined to the garden for days - more storms on the way! Maybe a few shots in the rain will make a change.

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    Nice pose and excellent background. Taking off about 2 cm from the top would create a more balanced composition.

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    Lovely IQ on the finch. Love the bristles near the mouth. Your exposure is spot on.
    The BG and light are very nice. I agree with Karl about taking a bit off the top.
    Issues with perch addressed already.
    Wish we had these birds on this side of the pond.
    Gail

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    I love the bird and I love the pose too and the "screaming" beak. I agree with taking a bit off of the top and that the perch isn't ideal. Nice one, Jon.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Thanks for your comments everyone. The perch as seen doesn't look ideal I agree, this is a side stem, there is another one directly below it,with a very similar shape and direction, I was hoping to get a shot of the male on one branch and the female on the other hence the zoom lens.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Jon, I'm wondering about coming further back if possible and using a longer lens? With that 100-400 you must be reasonably close, although not sure how much of a crop this is?

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    Hi Jon,do like the aggressive pose you have caught and also the clean bg that does make the bird stand out very well, you must be pleased with this I know I would be.

    Keith.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Thanks Keith, Steve normally I use the 500 but I put the 100-400 with TC ( giving me up to 560mm) on to give me the flexibility of going for one bird or two on the two differing perches

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Jon , besides the fact that i think you should go for a more pano orientated crop , i think this is a great frame of this nice species .
    No technical suggestions from side , just works as presented . I specially like the overall color palette you created .
    Very nice !!!

    TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Jon, excellent IQ, and it looks like the light was kind to your garden in this. Super pose with the aggressive open beak, and you have brought out the finer plumage nicely. I do like the colour on this fellow, and he pops so well against your smooth BG. With shots like this, Im sure you will be staying behind to get more - sadly Barney will lose out.

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