Scaled Quail and Friend

[david cramer]

These are normally very skittish birds, so I was pleased this one perched long enough on the adobe wall to get a shot as the sun was setting. It's a bit hot on the right side, but nothing is blown in the tif file. I was actually shooting hummingbirds for the last time this season, when the quail jumped up and gave me about 7 seconds to reset my settings, catch focus, and shot off a couple.

D300, 400mm+2xtc, mounted on tripod with wimberely, f/9, 1/250, iso 500.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Great bird and pose. Just a bit hot.

[Linda Robbins]

The angle of the light caused hot spots and shadowing, but with the bird just popping up on the wall, there wasn't much you could do. Also wish the vine did not obscure the tail.

[James Salywoda]

Neat capture David I love the look on the Quail as it seems to be looking at the little bug pretty cool.

[Joanna Trescott]

Nice reaction to get this one. I love the light and the dreamy BG -- it really compliments the colors of the quail.

[Lana Hays]

David
I like the pose of this one.....and I always appreciate quail images as they are so skittish where I live. The light did create some "hot spots" but I'm wondering if you could try to reprocess to tone them down....but not lose the overall look of the light as I like it. Perhaps a tad darker and a touch of USM. I see a lot of potential with this one.