Blue Grosbeak

[Doug Brown]

I don't want to inundate the forum with Peregrine photos so I'll try to mix it up a little. Here's another photo from So. Cal. of a very cooperative Blue Grosbeak. This is a bird that I'd not had much luck in getting close to prior to this encounter, so I was quite pleased.



Canon 1D Mark III, 500mm + 1.4x, f/7.1, 1/1000, ISO 800, manual exposure, hand held

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great light, angle, details, perch and BG. I have seen my first Blue Grosbeak a couple of days ago but he was not nearly as cooperative as this one.

[Randy Stout]

Doug:

Very nice, agree with Axels tech analysis. That is certainly a bird that you could blow the blue channel on!

I like the composition and the fact that pretty much the entire perch is in focus.

Cheers

Randy

[Dave Leroy]

Good for you Doug, and a dandy looking bird it is. I really like th ejob you hvae done with the colours, the bright colours of the bird and muted surroundings.
Very nice,

Dave

[Joe Senzatimore]

Stunning image. Well exposed, clean and simple. Don't get much better than this.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Great looking fellow Doug.
I like everything about it except the perch that I find too bright, I'd also like to see the leafs a bit greener.
Here's my take, I don't think I am getting the results I want but I gave it a try any ways.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Doug, I had the same feelings as JC, everything too bright and shiny. The repost is better. Great bird and COMP and sharp too.

[Doug Brown]

Thanks for the rework Peter and Juan! I like the toned-down perch.

[Grace Scalzo]

Stunning! The bg is the perfect compliment to this bird. The reposts refine it, and I could even see a bit of a crop from the left.

[DarrenMcKenna]

nice image Doug, although it looks a tad soft.

http://www.darrenmckenna.com/

[Stu Bowie]

Doug, stunning light, and details, and like the curved perch. You have exposed the blues very well, and would maybe take a tad off the left. BTW, great BG too.

[Chris Kotze]

Beautiful colours, pose and well exposed.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Super image! Lovely BG and pleasing composition.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

As I told you somewhere else, this is a superb image. I loved the smooth colors of the original but love the second repost as well.
Anyway you made a very good job on it. You have to be proud.

Szimi

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Hi Doug, stunning bird, bg and nice perch. Handhelding is your trademark, ever use a tripod ? :)

Doug must be having pity on his tripod as it is hardly used. :D

Doug,
Lovely image. Beautiful bird. I agree with the toned down perch. You never stop amazing me with the sharpness you achieve while handholding.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Ramon M. Casares]

Nice perch, pose, light, exposure (last repost), detail, colors and BG.
Congratulations!

[gary rouleau]

Doug, that's a nice one -I do like the repost a tad more.

Sabyasachi, I have photographed with Doug many times -he amazes me as well. He must have read the book "Yen and the art of being the Tripod".

cheers

[Doug Brown]

He must have read the book "Yen and the art of being the Tripod".

Actually, I wrote the book "Zen and the art of leaving your tripod at home." :D

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

I simply don't understand how can you take pictures without a tripod. To me is mandatory, (may be because my old lens is not IS?) any ways you amaze me as well.

[Arthur Morris]

I have also written a book, "My Tripod is Me."