Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: European Starling Pair.

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    26,311
    Threads
    3,979
    Thank You Posts

    Default European Starling Pair.

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Not a very popular species around here due to them being an aggressive introduced species most often outcompeting indigenous species for nesting cavities, but their beauty is undeniable! A bit of an unconventional comp with those head angles towards the near edge, but I feel the fruit placements on the right half nicely balance the image out. I also got lucky when both heads were in the same relative distance to the plane of focus.

    Canon 7DII + 500mm f/4 II + 1.4TC III, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/320s., f/5.6, ISO 800, natural light, handheld, FF, added catchlight to both eyes, a couple of larger distracting snowflakes removed, including one in front of the higher bird's chest.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Port Orchard, WA
    Posts
    76
    Threads
    14
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Who would of thought you could make a Christmas card photo with Starlings! Great shot. I love the feather detail and patterns on the upper birds breast.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    985
    Threads
    83
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    An awesome shot and I agree with Jonathan here that it feels very Christmas-ey! I think their plumage goes really well with the falling snow.

  4. #4
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    2,975
    Threads
    322
    Thank You Posts
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    super composition Dan, love the framing with the branched crabapples, and falling snow. terrific exposure too. Starlings are such beauties, i agree!

  5. #5
    Lifetime Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    3,555
    Threads
    543
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This made me smile, Daniel, for the same reasons as Jonathan and Adhika mentioned. Also how beautifully you captured the iridescence on the breast of both birds.

    When you mentioned you had added both catchlights the first thing I remembered was, you are the "Eye Doctor" par-excellence, and I immediately thought a reflection of the horizon might be a suggestion.
    That being said, I'm also fine with catchlights as posted.

    Geoffrey




    http://500px.com/geoffreymontagu

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Staten Island, New York
    Posts
    3,124
    Threads
    260
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Excellent. I always think that I should have a shot like this of Starlings. They are pests but beautiful ones for sure. The berries, the poses, the snow. All so good. Congrats.

  7. #7
    BPN Member William Dickson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Fife, Scotland
    Posts
    7,883
    Threads
    1,115
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Well done Dan, you got the good light to show that great feather colour. Lovely comp and snowy. Cracking image.

    TFS

    Will

  8. #8
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Lincolnshire UK.
    Posts
    4,951
    Threads
    187
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Dan you have placed those catchlights perfectly ,sheen and detail on the birds is spot on,snowy scene makes for a great image.Don't know why these birds have such a bad image I think they are great.

  9. #9
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Princeton, NJ
    Posts
    12,487
    Threads
    1,892
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    No question that Starlings are lovely birds, despite their other attributes. You've captured them beautifully, and the perch makes the image. Your comp was certainly the way to go.

  10. #10
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    3,065
    Threads
    1,300
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    great work too cold for me

  11. #11
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,287
    Threads
    2,653
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely shot Dan I lkek the composition and the colours are wonderful. Starlings are not the most popular birds in UK either for the reasons you give also. It seems that only photographers like them!

  12. #12
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Schoharie, NY
    Posts
    71
    Threads
    13
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    You can count me in the starling haters club, but this is a cracking image and even I have to begrudgingly acknowledge the beauty that you have captured in these birds. The lower bird looking to the left side of the frame does leave me feeling a bit cramped, but I like the composition of the snowy perch.

  13. #13
    BPN Limited Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    3
    Threads
    1
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Yeah, it is very difficult to get a starling's image since it is rare to find. How did you take this awesome shot? Really wonderful. I wish to take starting pictures for my documentary but I couldn't get images still now. So I am planning to get help from the bird control specialists of Toronto. Hope that I could get good shots of them.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics