Curve-billed Thrasher on a Cholla Skeleton

[Jeff Dyck]

This is a set-up shot of a Curve-billed Thrasher from my recent Arizona trip.

In the interest of full disclosure, about the bottom 1/8th of this photo has been manufactured - I clipped the original shot about 1/2" up the birds tail. I was able to reconstruct the cholla branch from another image of the same perch, but the tail feathers are completely manufactured (using a combination of cloning / masks / etc.).

Canon 5DII -- 800mm f/5.6L IS -- 1/1600s @ f7.1 -- ISO400 -- 0EV

[Randy Stout]

Jeff:

Harmonious colors, good pose, like the foot display.
A very interesting perch, lots of detail. Would prefer the vertical element not be right in front of him, at least not that close. Darn birds, just don't know how to pose sometimes.

Thanks for the info on tail. I would not have noticed.

The detail on the breast looks a bit soft, but perhaps it is just the nature of their feathers there.

Cheers

Randy

[Ken Canning]

I like the almost monochromatic color of this image. Nice job on the tail feathers!

[Melissa Groo]

Wonderful portrait of this bird. I like the framing though as per Randy, wish the vertical element weren't so close. Amazing job on the tail.