Tree Swallow

[Gail Spitler]

Hi All
Captured at a nest box in pre-sunrise light. Cropped about 50%.
I look forward to your comments and suggestions.
Thanks
Gail
Canon 50D, 1/500 sec at f/5.6, 500mm, pattern metering with 0 EV

[Cheryl Flory]

what a great pose! I like the background, it contrasts nicely with the swallow. Great lighting. Can you contrast the eye a bit more, or something to make it stand out even more?

[Gail Spitler]

Thanks Cheryl - Good suggestion, I meant to give the eye one more small dose of sharpening and forgot. It is a recessed eye so it will never have the same effect as is seen on other species.
Thanks again
Gail

[Mark Schack]

Great job with the feather detail on the whites, great pose.

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Nice pose Gail, really sharp. The whites and the exposure look really good. Might crop a bit more of the shadow line out at the top. Just a thought.

[Gail Spitler]

Thanks Mark and Jackie - I debated about the upper shadow that comes from the roof. Maybe I should try lightening it as I want the space at the top.
Thanks again
Gail

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Gail

Love the look back and overall feel !!! Fine image Great suggestions and can only add why not use a converter? Will get you closer to and will be little cropping !!! Excellent image !!!

[Lance Peters]

Hi Gail - exposure looks good - Nice HA and sharp as a tack. Might ligtehn the eye just a tad to make the iris more visible. Feels a little tight for my tastes in the bottom right hand side.
Good show :)

[wendell westfall]

I like this image a lot Gail. I myself have yet to get an image of this species that I'm pleased with. As presented it does seem just a bit tight to me.

[Gail Spitler]

Thanks Wendell - I know how you feel. For me the problem with all my other Tree Swallow images is that the bird does not come off at all well in sunlight; the feathers end up too shiny and lack definition. So I was pleased as punch to discover how well the pre-sunrise light worked. It sometimes takes a long time for the penny to drop.
Cheers
Gail

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Gail,
I like the capture...very good advise given...I like the fine feather details and the color rendition...:cool:

[Desmond Chan]

For me the problem with all my other Tree Swallow images is that the bird does not come off at all well in sunlight; the feathers end up too shiny and lack definition. So I was pleased as punch to discover how well the pre-sunrise light worked. It sometimes takes a long time for the penny to drop.
Cheers
Gail

The same problem happens to barn swallows (likely also cliff swallows) and purple martins, too. Just photo them on a cloudy day or when they in the shades :)

Good sharpness and details. Congrats on finally getting one you like !

[Jeni Williams]

Really like this image Gail. I would also be inclined to lighten the eye a bit. I like the feather detail and quizzical look!

[Erich Stevens]

Nice capture! Can't believe a swallow was actually still enough for you to make this photo. I was visiting a botanical gardens in MD last week, and the place was inhabited by hundreds of these little guys. But their motion was so quick and constant and they didn't seem to stop or perch anywhere. Needless to say, I came away without any swallow pics.

[Gail Spitler]

Thanks Eric. This fellow is feeding young in the nest box, so I am able to have everything set up and just have to click the shutter. Desmond Chan is the real pro at swallows in flight.
Cheers
Gail

[Jeff Cashdollar]

Yes, Desmond is good in flight but you nailed this image Gail - nice capture.