Swamp Sparrow

[Bruce Miller]

Hello Everyone. I shot this little guy in the cats surrounding a mitigation pond in Central Ohio. There were several sparrows there that day, but this is the only one that was willing to have it's picture taken!

Shot with a 40D, 100-400LIS, f7.1 (sweet spot on my lens), ISO 800 (I started out with the ISO high hoping to keep the shutter speed high, too high) 1/2000. I did reduce the ISO after this series, but as it turned out these were the only pics of the morning... I did hand hold while my tripod was slung over my back!






Thanks for looking!

Bruce

[Svante Larsson]

I like the image alot - the framing of the bird by the leaves and the reeds together with the green versus the brown is very pleasant to my mind. I would lose the brown leave sticking up in the LRC.

[Ray Rozema]

Like the pose and direct eye contact. These birds are hard to get as they stay hidden, good job. Like the color of the BKG the bird looks a little soft, which is puzzling since the cattail it is on appears sharp. The OOF cattail on the left is a little distracting and it is curious that it is OOF as it appears to be in the same plane as the other cattail.

[Geoff Warnock]

Hi Bruce, I really like this image and particularly the bird's pose. I might reduce the brightness of the brown leaves in front of the beak though.

[Bill Dix]

Love the habitat and pose. Difficult birds to get a clean shot of, as you have done here. I agree about evicting the LRC leaf.

[Michael Bertelsen]

Hi Bruce,

Nice colors and a tough one to judge for me.

Michael Bertelsen

[Mark Young]

Nicely exposed Bruce, the Sparrow is in a nice pose. How would the image look if you went for a tighter crop and place the bird more center in the frame?

[Bruce Miller]

I like the image alot - the framing of the bird by the leaves and the reeds together with the green versus the brown is very pleasant to my mind. I would lose the brown leave sticking up in the LRC.

Thanks, Svante! I didn't even notice that stick.
Bruce

[Bruce Miller]

Hi Bruce, I really like this image and particularly the bird's pose. I might reduce the brightness of the brown leaves in front of the beak though.

Thanks Geoff, I agree, I should try to tone that leaf down.

[Bruce Miller]

Nicely exposed Bruce, the Sparrow is in a nice pose. How would the image look if you went for a tighter crop and place the bird more center in the frame?

I don't think I can get away with a tighter crop. It's already cropped tight.