Bullock's Oriole (juvenile)

[Mark Schmitt]

I'd heard this bird from a distance, but never saw it. Then, while sitting taking images of finches, this bird literally flew into my view finder. I only got the one shot.

Self critique: The colour are not an illusion nor are they a matter of incorrect white balance. The BG is a hill-side that is all dead grasses and so the 500mm just bled it as a single value of color. Ironically, nearly the same values as the bird. The head turn is not ideal: this is nearly full frame so there was little options in the cropping; details in the bird are acceptable and the profile pose is good.

EXIF:
Camera: Canon 30D
Lense: Canon EF 500 IS L
Mode: Aperture priority
ISO: 320
White bal.: Custom, 5150K
Exposrue: 1/1000 @ f 8.0, comp -.33; fill flash -1.66 comp, Better Beamer extender

Feel free ;)

[Fabs Forns]

You nailed the critique :)

Additional comment, you may want to burn the light part of the perch.

[Tony Whitehead]

Good critique, Mark. More room in front of the bird would be nice. Confused by your almost full frame comment as this is square and full frame on a 30D would be 2:3 so about 1/3 of the image has gone.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Mark - love the BG and the colour rendetion is great, agree with Tony for my tastes some more room up front would be good :)

[Ramon M. Casares]

Agree with your self critique and with the above sugggestions. Congratulaitons! Lovely BG, light and dteail!