Canon 1DX
f/4 500mm with 1.4
f/5.6
1/1000
ISO 1600
I made this image of a young Red Grouse yesterday morning, and tomorrow is what 'they' call 'The Glorious Twelfth'. The first day of the Grouse Shooting Season. I think this image portrays it well, the young bird looking over his habitat. Tomorrow will be its first 12th, where it will endure excessive shotgun noise, and the barking of dogs leading to all sorts of stress. I hope this wee guy survives. Maybe the solitary flower, in amongst the burned heather will give it hope. Not your usual purple heather grouse image(which I also captured), but, an image telling a story, where hundreds of Red Grouse will be killed.
Hi Will, lovely low perspective here, and I like the soft light. You have captured a nice pose with the head at least parallel to you, and the overall detail looks good.Although you have mentioned the flower, I do wish it was in the DOF to show up better.
Im not a fan of any hunting, and what is the purpose of going wild and shooting these guys. Yes I also hope he survives.
Poor guys! I like the HA and details. I find the OOF flower a little distracting and not adding to the image. I'm also hoping that this guy can make it. Thank you for sharing the picture and the story.
What an interesting and sad story you have shared with this image.
Because of the story, I completely agree with keeping the little flower in the frame. But from a purely critical view point the flower is a bit distracting.
I think the bird needs a bit more contrast.
Great POV and love the burned heather,
Gail
Nice work Will, the whole story of this stupid season of shooting the birds is enhanced with the single flower. I particularly like the environment here, the ones I have access to don't have anything like this interest on the ground. Even better is the complementary BG.
What a beautiful bird William. You couldn't have asked for better light. Very sad story indeed. if it wasn't enough stress and worse, for these and many other wild animals of this area,
the annual burning of the heather must be as devastating. From what I understand if heather was allowed to grow without burning, birch trees would grow.
Ákos, I agree with your sentiments regarding humans.