Greater Roadrunner close-up

[Jeff Dyck]

I was very happy when a pair of Greater Roadrunners came into feed at my blind set-up. I had set-up with a 800mm lens mounted on the tripod and because of the large size of the Roadrunners, I was unable to fit them into the frame and so initially resorted to some portrait type head-shots like this one (I later snuck out the back of the blind with second camera body and shorter lens for some full bird images - I posted one here a couple weeks ago)

Canon 5DII -- Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS -- 1/1250s @ f/7.1 -- ISO400 -- fill flash @ -2 2/3EV -- Manual Exposure

[stuart wanuck]

nice and sharp and nice use of fill flash

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Jeff, good alert pose, sharp, and you have captured excellent detail. The colours of the BG compliment the roadrunner very well. I would maybe selectively sharpen his beak. I dont know this species, so would like to know if they are skittish, and what do they eat? ( only seen them on cartoons )

[Dumay de Boulle]

Good sharp detail, nice Bg and good flash work...Tip of the beak looks a bit softer than the rest of the image...Nice one Jeff

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent pose and details, wish you had stopped down more so the tip of the bill was in focus too

[Jeff Dyck]

Not sure what people are seeing on the bill - it may be a smidge soft at the tip at full magnification, but doesn't look out of focus to me at the size posted above.

[Jeff Dyck]

Hi Jeff, good alert pose, sharp, and you have captured excellent detail. The colours of the BG compliment the roadrunner very well. I would maybe selectively sharpen his beak. I dont know this species, so would like to know if they are skittish, and what do they eat? ( only seen them on cartoons )

Stuart - this pair wasn't particularly skittish. Roadrunners eat insects (including things like scorpions and spiders), small rodents and reptiles and are known to work cooperatively to hunt snakes. I am guessing the pair came into my set-up for a drink rather than food.

[Troy Lim]

Nice portrait, strange, the original shot was pretty sharp on the bill..
Did you miss it when applying the sharpening?

[Sid Garige]

Jeff,

Exceptional road runner portrait.

Any change they are from elephant head pond?

-Sid

[Jeff Dyck]

Jeff,

Exceptional road runner portrait.

Any change they are from elephant head pond?

-Sid

Hi Sid - yes, this photo was taken at the Elephant Head pond.

[Sid Garige]

Hi Sid - yes, this photo was taken at the Elephant Head pond.

I kind of figured it out from the background, blind and two road runners... :) Bill is a great host. Enjoyed my time there.

-Sid