We are enjoying a flock of about 50 Evening Grosbeaks coming to our feeders this winter. The males' dramatic colors contrasting with the females' subtle colors makes these birds a prime photographic target. The image that I want of either sex continues to elude me, but this image is getting closer. It was a very gray morning so there wasn't much to light up this fellow.
Did minor tweaks in LR2 and removed a branch in PS.
C & C's much appreciated.
Cheers
Gail
Canon 40D with 500mm at f/4, 1/125 second, EV with +2/3 comp., ISO 640
Such a beautiful subject and such a great capture. I love both the pine and evening grosbeaks.
You might be able to bring out some more detail in the plumage if you take it into PS and do some selective sharpening with the unsharp mask.
Agree with the comments on the whites, and while you are working on those, try emphasizing the catchlight in the eye. The bright white feathers are striking, but tend to pull my eye away from the bird's face.
Hi Folks - thanks for the comments and suggestions. The bird itself got one USM pass at 100%, radius ~2.0, threshold 0; I did intend to go back and lighten just the eye shine, forgot.
I think the white feathers are tertials and will never have sharp definition, perhaps the white is a bit hot? I'll check, but that is what they look like on the bird. I appreciate the comments about the white feathers, they were useful. I checked a few other images (Glenn Bartley has a nice one, see - http://www.glennbartley.com/natureph...0Grosbeak.html)
Your comments reinforce why this is a nemesis bird for me. They are dramatic and I want to get all the parts to come together in a faithful rendition.
Still working on it.
Cheers
Gail
Last edited by Gail Spitler; 01-06-2009 at 09:43 AM.
Reason: clean up language
Hi Gail,
A lovely composition indeed. you have sharp details and good color rendition I like the head angle and eye contact...you might want to tone down the white band on the lower portion of the feathers, its a tad hot...other than this, I like it very much...good show...:cool:
Al - I am working on perches. Need to figure out where. We feed birds in a big way, so the perches have to be something the birds will use on their way to the chow. It is a really good suggestion. I am tired of messing with cloning out distracting 'stuff'.
Cheers
Gail
Evening Grosbeak
