Sacramento NWR
D300, 500 f4 VR, f4, 1/250 ISO 400
Higher ISO/SS would have frozen the blur in the twitchy tail and throat feathers of this energetic little bird.
John, loved the energetic pose. dont mind the tail blur at all. Loved the habitat BG. One suggestion is to have a little more room in front of the bird and little less behind. The grasses on the left side will balance the bird perfectly IMO....sorta rule-of-thirds.
Thanks for the comments everyone!
Fabs, I was shooting from a car door with a bean bag, and that was my only window into the maze of cattails just above the wrens nest.
Axel, I tried toning down the highlights on the tail (though they are not blown, just blurred), and they seemed too dark. Maybe I'll give it another go.
Kaustubh, a smidge off the right might be better comp as well.
Thanks all.
John
All I can say is that I've got to sit and drool over this one.....perky pose and a great setting. This little wren is a big nemesis of mine........it certainly is a wonderful image of the little bugger!!!!
I agree with your self critic but I think that you can be very happy with this one John. In fact I think that slight motion in the tail adds action to the image. There is a lot of dramatism in the frame, energy, action and behaviour. Light is really smooth and sweet and I love the pattern in the BG. A killer image. I love it :)