Shot this on the Lek in Nebraska 2015. Shot from blind and on Tripod.Removed branches intercepting the body and leg. Processed in Dpp 4.5 and Photoshop. Appreciate any critiques and comments.
Canon 5D Mark 111
600 mm
Canon 300 2.8L IS 11 2x converter
Av 7.1
shutter speed 1/500
I don't think I've ever seen one up on perch like this, so that alone makes this a fantastic image. IQ looks pretty good, especially on the feet which we rare get to see with ground shots. Soft
warm light is great. Look like sun was just about to crack horizon, hence slow shutter.
This is fairly spectacular I think. I can't imagine a lot of other photos of the species like this and this good.
The exposure could be lowered for me but subjective.
Nice work getting this.
Great look at it perched up high. Never seen either Prairie Chicken. Love the tones of the image and the calling pose. Perfect background. Only thing I would do is tone down the whites a bit on the back as they are a bit hot.
What a great BG, pose and perch. Wonderful to see the feet.
The image is a bit bright and I would tone down the brightness and / or exposure.
Very very good!
Gail
Sorry Guys this bird is maybe two feet off the ground. Not many trees on the prairies of Nebraska Sandhills. These are dead Cedar branches laying on the Lek. I move them around to get on sun angle.Cedar Trees are very invasive and ranchers use them for fence posts or cut them down.
Funny how one bird uses them but the Sharptail Grouse in the same general area don't use them. Prairie Chickens also use small shrubs as launching points or to get a height advantage on the competition. Only once or twice have I seen a Sharptail perch on a small bush on the Lek. Thanks to all for the comments.
Male Prairie Chicken
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