Black-and-white Warbler singing

[Matthew Studebaker]

Carden Alvar, Ontario | June | Canon 40D | Canon 600mm f4 IS | Audio recording ISO 200

My target birds were more like Upland Sandpiper and Clay-colored Sparrow, but when you walk away with shots like this instead, you can't complain too much. This is my take on the shot Glenn Bartley posted last week (we shot together).

[Kobus Tollig]

Great shot well done. Great pose comp and bg...
The growth on the branch on the right is a bit distracting imo.
Well done on this

[Mark Dumbleton]

Stunning image - I like everything about this - perfect complimentary BG, singing bird, exposure and detail.
I have to say for me, I like the perch and little bushy patch on side, although some might say it does distract.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Love this image. The singing pose makes this one for me. What a stylish perch! I would make the blacks blacker.

[Stu Bowie]

Lovely calling pose with the open beak. Sharp, good detail, and I like the light in this. Cool perch covered in linchen.

[Matthew Studebaker]

anyone else think the darks need to get darker here? Thanks guys.

[Doug Brown]

I've only seen one of these birds in person once, but I think the blacks could go a little darker. Love the singing pose.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

My version.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

My version.

[Randy Stout]

Matthew:

I haven't seen these guys in person, but suspect the blacks are just slightly darker than presented in your original. I pulled the black slider over just a bit to identify the darkest blacks, reset the black point off of that, and then pulled the black slider back. It came out very similar to Juan's version.

I like the fuzz on the perch to the right, but might burn it in just enough to keep it from drawing our attention away from the bird.

Overall, a beauty.

Thanks for sharing.

Randy

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

I Iove the singing pose,colors and details!!!

[Ramon M. Casares]

I love this shot, great calling pose, stunng perch, light, BG, textures, colors and detail, I don't see a big difference between either post except for a tiny little brightness correction.
Congratulations.

[Matthew Studebaker]

Thanks Juan - I like it. Your version packs a little more punch. And Randy - good suggestion on burning the lichen a bit more. I could see that leading the viewer's eye more. Thanks guys.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Lovely image. Original works better for me or maybe between the two posts.
Catchlight caused maybe by the flash is a bit dominant.

Szimi

[ChasMcRae]

In my experience the blacks vary on different birds even on males such as this. Males are usually more distinct and blacker, but variation is such that slight differences in posts that I do not quibble. Whatever you like and I would like it a little blacker but that is a double edge sword in that you may lose feather detail as you adjust.
I love the perch, singing and almost perfectly parallel position.
Chas.

[Danny Laredo]

Superb image Matthew. I like Juan version as well.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Oh man this is wicked. I love the lichen tuft on the branch...it balances the image quite nicely, and Randy's suggestion of burning it is a good one. I only have one small suggestion about the twig at bottom...I would crop a tiny amount at bottom just enough so it doesn't seem like that twig is accidentally clipped. All else is two thumbs up from me :-)

[Harshad Barve]

What a beauty , Great shot
Harshad