Western Wood-Pewee

[Kerry Perkins]

From my mountain retreat last weekend. If I have the ID wrong please don't hesitate to correct me. ;)

These little ones were all over the place and I found a nest - more from that later! I really enjoy hunting the little passerines with the 400mm f/5.6. It is quite a challenge but very rewarding when you get one in the right spot!

Converted from RAW in LR2, then off to CS4 for noise reduction with Topaz Denoise and the usual sharpening and color correction. The background was pretty bright so I toned it down using an exposure adjustment layer.

50D, EF400 f/5.6
Aperture priority, f/5.6@1/640, evaluative metering EC +1 ISO 400 AWB
AI Servo autofocus using back button, HH, 580EX II w/BB, FEC -2/3 E-TTL mode Evaluative

[Erich Stevens]

According to my Peterson's guide you'd be correct on the ID. I like the light BG and the eye is pin sharp. Love it!

[Alfred Forns]

Good looking bird and pose Kerry Thanks for the confirmation Erich !!

It is sharp and well exposed, like your compensation. Could wish for the tail to be away form the branch but pretty as presented !!!! ...fun going after the little guys !!!

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

You have a sharp eye and lots of detail on the feathers. Wish that there wasn't a little scratch on the right side of the branch.

[Cheryl Flory]

great image. as mentioned above, very sharp and lots of details. I like how you kept a little bit of the bg there, that it is not totally blurred out. I think it gives it some depth and keeps the bird in its natural habitat.

Why did you use the AI Servo autofocus using back button?

[denise ippolito]

Kerry, Nice details and BG . Like the pose and curved perch.

[Kerry Perkins]

Cheryl, I use the back button for focusing almost exclusively. I want to control when the camera attempts to focus. This is very useful for composing the shot and especially useful for flight shots. Also, when attempting to auto-focus on a bird that has branches or other foliage around it, the camera very often fails. Rather than having the AF hunt aimlessly for focus, I just don't push the button and focus manually. This is how I work... ;)

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Kerry,
I like the composition, image and capture...this is one sweet image, I like the sharp eye...:cool:

[Richard Waas]

Kerry, great detail.... Thanks for the little lesson as well. Congrats, fabulous.....

[Harold Davis]

fantastic flash work!! love the detail in the bird. that eye is simply gorgeous!! great job, kerry.