Streaked Rosefinches Mating, Sichuan, China

[Craig Brelsford]

Why do I love birding in China? Moments like this. How many Westerners have even seen a streaked rosefinch, let alone photographed one, let alone photographed a pair mating? (The streaked rosefinch is not particularly rare, but it's endemic to the remote Himalayas and Himalayan Plateau.) The eastern Himalayan Plateau, where I took this shot, is a far cry from the Rockies or Alps, with their excellent mountain roads and comfortable ski lodges. Let's just say I never did get completely accustomed to Tibetan food. The payoff is rare behavior by what to my American eyes is a new species. The encounter between this male and female lasted all of five seconds. I didn't even have time to ramp up the ISO, but the light was enough to get me to 1/640s at ISO 200. I have other shots of the pair effecting the "cloacal kiss." For now, here's their preliminary dance.

Device: Nikon D300
Lens: VR 600mm F/4G
Focal length: 600mm
VR: ON
Aperture: F/4
Shutter Speed: 1/640s
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Metering: Center-Weighted
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

[Arthur Morris]

Quite loverly. EXP and SH are fine. One perfect head angle and one (the male) close to perfect. Because the light is not hitting the male's face as nicely as it is hitting the female's face I would suggest lightening the face of the male a bit. Then a healthy crop from the bottom.

[Hendri Venter]

Moment well captured Craig. I think a crop from the bottom excluding most of the OOF area will work nicely.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Now that is way cool behaviour captured by you!! I can understand your excitement. Nice separation between subject and BG. I agree with a crop from below, and to me it looks like the image could take a bit of a contrast boost.

FWIW I almost never photograph below ISO 400, even in good light, in anticipation of unexpected action.

[Simon Bennett]

Most interesting behaviour very well captured Craig.

[Craig Brelsford]

FWIW I almost never photograph below ISO 400, even in good light, in anticipation of unexpected action.

I hear you, Daniel. It took an experience like that with the rosefinches to hammer your point home. For the rest of the trip, my default was almost always ISO 400.

[Arthur Morris]

Me also loves ISO 400.

[Glenda Simmons]

Great behavior image! I too, think a bit of the OOF flowers at the bottom, cropped would showcase your subjects, better.