California Quail (male)

[Mark Schmitt]

I'm singularly fortunate that at my property these birds make a regular circuit to feed in the yard. So I get some good oportunities to take images of them from out of my kitcen window (open of course)

Conditions: April / warm
Location: Wofford Hts., Kern Co. CA

EXIF
Camera: Canon 20D
Lense: Canon EF 500 IS L / f 4.0
Mode: Av priority
Medering: pattern
Exposure: 1/200 @ f 9.0
ISO: 400
White bal: custom 5300 K

Work flow: Adobe Lightroom 1.4 / CS2

[Chris Hansen]

Mark,
This is one oft he best quail pictures I have ever seen. The incredible detail, the BG ,the perch and the the stance of the bird all combine to make an incredible image. The only change I would suggest to make it even better would be to sharpen the back left side of the perch and darken it slightly.
You are one lucky guy to have access to all those quail. Keep up the excellent work.

God's light and love your way,

Chris

[Tony Whitehead]

Excellent, Mark. This is one chubby quail. The light, pose and detail is fantastic. All I can suggest is cleaning up a little of the whitewash on the rock.

[Dominic Cantin]

The feathers are so graphic :eek: I'd like to see and photograph one of these birds one day !

Dom :)

[Melvin Grey]

Lovely image - soft, complimentary colours, superb feather detail, nice 'natural' perch and BG. What a bird! I would, however, agree about cleaning up the 'whitewash'.

[Aidan Briggs]

Nice soft light and pose. I would go for a vertical crop.

[Raymond Barlow]

amazing detail on the bird, great colours and environment..

[James Salywoda]

Beautiful shot Mark!

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Nice looking bird with great details and pose!!!