Snow Bunting

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Photographed in a local field yesterday with cold fingers. :)



1D3, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/1600s, f/8, EC +0.67, ISO 400

[Arthur Morris]

Sweet. Perfect EXP and I love the dried vegetation. I wish only for a fractionally better head angle.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Stunning bird and capture. I am not so sure about the reed leaf, the image could do without. How long do you manage to stay in the field without gloves ?

Thanks, Peter. I did wear well-insulated gloves but it was so windy that after a few hours they only helped so much.

[Dave Phillips]

sweet, I think there is excellent eye contact regardless of head turn.
That bunting is looking right at me, it's almost creepy

[Ramon M. Casares]

Great exposure control, great pose and light, love the colurs, detail and comp with that leaf, only IMO the head angle couldn't be better :) . Congratulations!

[Grace Scalzo]

The leaf adds an element of interest that in my opinion completes this image and makes it stand apart. Nice eye contact.

[Raymond Barlow]

very nice Axel, I like the angle, and sweet details., and the inclusion of the dried leaf gives the image depth.

[Dave Mills]

Axel...Exposure, subject matter and lighting are very nice!!! I tend to feel the blurred leaf in the backround really doesn't help the image due to it competing with your center of interest. It makes one leave the bird and concentrate on the blurry brown area in the back and wonder what it is. I feel the bird is making good eye contact!

[Fabs Forns]

Another vote for no leaf. Although I'm all for including habitat elements, in this case, I'm not that fond of it.

[John Blumenkamp]

Great low angle, and I like the side profile of the bird in terms of seeing the whole length of body. I would probably opt for removing the leaf if it were mine.

[Judd Patterson]

Wow, the subtle colors on these Snow Buntings are really sweet...nice capture Axel! The exposure and low angle are great. I'm not sure that a different head angle is really necessary...looks good to me.

[Paul Kusmin]

I always have a tough time shooting Snow buntings so I can appreciate this shot all the more.
excellent exposure.
As for the vegetation, I can understand why you included it but the darker portion of it (split from the main leaf) could be edited out and then it wouldn't compete with bird as much IMO.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I feel the dried leaf takes the focus away too easily from the subject, which is absolutely stunnin'! :) Agree with Ramón re: head angle.

[Tony House]

Just goes to show how tough birds are!! and they're in all weathers day and night....

Nice work Axel, no nits for me..

Tony

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated. I left the leaf because I like the way it complements the brown of the plumage.