Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

[Jason G. Harrison]

Super slow times here lately with the heat, so here is one from before the heat took over.

D300s, 600VR, 1.4tc, ISO 400, f/8, 1/800th


Hope you enjoyed and as always C&C welcomed and encouraged.

Jason

[Hendri Venter]

This pops so nicely from the BG and the feather detail very good.

[Randy Stout]

Jason:

Nicely exposed, like the fuzzy perch, nice BG, catchlight.
To my eye, it looks just a bit sharper on the wing/shoulder area than the face, but it may well be due to differences in texture.

Have you enjoyed the 600VR;)

Cheers

Randy

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

So clean and neat. Loved it a lot. Superb pose, head turn, sharpness, BG, perch...well done Jason.

[Arthur Morris]

Jason: Nicely exposed, like the fuzzy perch, nice BG, catchlight. To my eye, it looks just a bit sharper on the wing/shoulder area than the face, but it may well be due to differences in texture. Have you enjoyed the 600VR;) Cheers. Randy

Very close Randy but sharpest focus (almost surely via the central sensor) is on the near wing. With the bird angled slightly away the face is simply not in sharp focus. Sweet bird, perch, and killer BKGR.

[Jason G. Harrison]

Very close Randy but sharpest focus (almost surely via the central sensor) is on the near wing. With the bird angled slightly away the face is simply not in sharp focus. Sweet bird, perch, and killer BKGR.

You and Randy were both correct indeed. The bird, or should I say birds as there were 8 of these flying in and out of this thicket I was set up on, perched on this chickory stem just long enough for me to get 2 frames off. I had my central sensor active...and was pushing the thumb pad up and right to get the eye in focus when it flew off. I was reluctant to post due to the head being softer than the wing, but after all, I for ever will be a student of photography and I am learning as I undergo this wonderful journey! Thanks for the comments folks.

[Jason G. Harrison]

Jason:

Nicely exposed, like the fuzzy perch, nice BG, catchlight.
To my eye, it looks just a bit sharper on the wing/shoulder area than the face, but it may well be due to differences in texture.

Have you enjoyed the 600VR;)

Cheers

Randy

The answer to your question in regards to my 600VR is...YES...it is my favorite piece of glass and I use it 98% of the time when I am after birds.

[Arthur Morris]

Hey Jason, Some selective sharpening of the face will improve this one.

[Jason G. Harrison]

Hey Jason, Some selective sharpening of the face will improve this one.

Here is a re-post with some additional sharpening on the face only.

[ChasMcRae]

Nice isolation and background. Final post looks very good to me.
The bird looks like a first year bird with lack of full head feathers and yellow at base of lower bill i.e. the juvie look.

[Arthur Morris]

The repost is a big improvement. Way to go.