After hearing so many of these guys drumming all throughout the forests of Canada. And after several failed attempts at actually photographing them I finally found one that I could get my lens on. What an awesome bird!
Hope you enjoy this one from northern Manitoba.
Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Shutter speed: 1/50 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Flash: On
ISO: 800
Focal length: 300mm f/4 IS
Super difficult image to execute, Glenn, first to find the bird and then to get him sharp within a dark forest setting. Excellent behavior captured as well. I do not think that the diagonal log on the left adds much, but it's part of the habit. Really nice work.
Killer bird and image and pose. Love the fanned tail. Getting your tripod an inch lower would have eliminated the light tan crescent above the bird's head.
Glenn, While we appreciate seeing your wonderful images here it would be nice to see you take some time to make substantive comments on the images of others. We suggest that folks do about five constructive comments for each image that they post. In recent months you seem to have that reversed and a quick glance at your posts reveals many in the "great shot" or "cute bird" category. In addition contributing here as a real member of the community rather than as someone who simply drops images off ever few days would greatly increase your exposure and help to establish you as someone they would want to turn to for help in improving their photography. That formula has worked well for me.
BIRDS AS ART Blog: great info and lessons, lots of images with our legendary BAA educational Captions; we will not sell you junk. 30+ years of long lens experience/e-mail with gear questions.
BIRDS AS ART Online Store: we will not sell you junk. 35 years of long lens experience. Please e-mail with gear questions.
Check out the new SONY e-Guide and videos that I did with Patrick Sparkman here. Ten percent discount for BPN members,
A dream image for me, Glen! Love the perch, and sense of habitat. Quite sharp for that SS, especially with the movement implied. Only thing that could improve here would have been to see the feet, but that was likely beyond your control. WTG!
For some reason I can't see the photo in the thread, but I did see the thumbnail, and I want to tell you that I'm impressed. I recently spent five weeks in Sichuan, China, my main mission being to shoot gamebirds. Frustration and triumph balanced out about 50-50. Merely finding gamebirds is itself an accomplishment; I greatly admire photographers who can build on that foundation with a winning shot. Your shot required the persistence, patience, and luck that more spectacular shots of a common wetland bird don't require. I've seen hundreds of shots of shorebirds in my few months here; this is my first ruffed grouse. 'Nuff said.
Awesome bird and image! I would love to capture one of these guys! The light crescent above the head is kind of distracting but it looks like a crown:D!