Painted Finch

[Dean Ingwersen]

Hi all,

This image is of a male Painted Finch (Emblema pictum), a specialist of inland and northern areas of Australia, particularly rocky areas containing spinifex grass (Triodia sp.). However, this is one of a pair who turned up about 600 kms out of range for the species into southern NSW. Pair were nesting, but nest has since failed. Here's hoping they try again.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers, Dean

Canon 20D, 500mm IS L & 1.4x TC, ISO 100, 1/250, f/5.6, AV @ +1/3
PS CS2 - sh-h, levels, curves, sat, usm. Also fixed up the eye area by cloning one in from a different image, and removed a 'dropping' from the lower branch.

[Juan Aragonés]

Wow, what a cute species! i like a lot the pose of the bird and the BG but not sure about the lower branch ( I am tempted to suggest a cloning job on it but not sure). Maybe a little touch of fill flash would produced a better result but you got a very nice image for sure. Congratulations!
Very good PS job, BTW

[Doug Brown]

I like it a lot as presented Dean! The lower branch doesn't bother me; it adds a little visual interest without drawing my eye away. Agree with Juan about fill flash or a little extra +EC. Nicely done!

[Arsdel Fluesmeier]

A very nice image. I would have cloned out the lower branch but it is very nice nonetheless.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

I would leave the branch in - very lovely image!
Regards,
Nicki

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Beautiful bird and beautiful capture. Excellent composition and a killer BG. Love the eye contact and good detail Dean. Many thanks form sharing.

[Ramon M. Casares]

I just wouldn't change a thing! BG, colors, pose, compo, light, detail, all is great! Big congrats!

[Dean Ingwersen]

Thanks all for the comments...much appreciated.

[Simon Bennett]

Top shot of a top species - I like pose and perch, sharp too.