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Thread: Long-tailed Widow Bird

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Default Long-tailed Widow Bird

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    Every time I visit the nature reserve close to my house, I am in the hope that I can get one of these guys in flight. They are not always willing, as most times they are fairly far from the road, and flying away from me. In all honesty, this was a grab shot. The widow Bird was perched, and I was shooting through the car, out the passenger window. He suddenly took off which I wasnt prepared for, so I simply pressed a few shots off in the hope of getting something. The end result was that he was in the top left corner of the frame, so Ive added canvas top and left to try and save the image. The BG is grass, and the colour is as shot. I wish I had a better wing position.

    Canon 50D
    100-400 @ 400mm
    1/1250
    F/6.3
    ISO 500

    Exp Comp +0.67
    Hand held from the car

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    Hi Stuart

    I can understand this birds reluctance to fly... I does not look like it could fly too far at all dragging that tail about, it must be hard work. I would be very spectacular all the same.
    I think you have done well with your 'grab' shot, but I find the head and its surrounds a little dark and lacking detail. Do you think a little local lightening would help? Wing position could be better as you noted but I am impressed with what you have captured anyway..

    DON

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    Perfect comp and bg, nice work!

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    Big tail really need hard work for fly.. good to see this bird. Like diagonal comp. and BG.

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    Hello Stuart. For a grabshot I think it came out wonderful. I really like the background, great light, and great comp.
    Very well done.

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    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    great display of that long tail and a nice BG, sweet light and exp
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    You couldn't ask for a nicer bg and sweeter light to show off this beauty. The exposure is great and a very nice job extending the canvas - love the comp.
    Very nice image, Stu. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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    I agree, you have a nice image here. Better wing position would have been nice, but I love your comp and my eye wants to study the tail, so the wings hardly matter. Well done.

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    Avian Moderator Randy Stout's Avatar
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    Stuart:

    Great example that sometimes you just have to push the button and hope for the best, when you don't have time to do anything else.

    As a famous hockie player once said: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take"

    These guys are always a challenge to compose because of their long tail. I have seen some interesting pano crops to try and cope with that issue.

    Nice BG, with good canvas extension.

    Congrats!

    Cheers

    Randy
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    "Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy" Sir Isaac Newton

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Stout View Post

    As a famous hockie player once said: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take"
    Great quote Randy and it makes so much sense.

    Thank you all for the kind words and feedback.

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Wish I could 'grab' a few like this. Great comp, and that tail, of course is spectacular. Love the spots of red.

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    The bird has some very long tail. It's a miracle that it can fly. Greta grab shot, Stuart. In fact it is a great flight shot, period.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Stu I would be VERY happy indeed if I had got a shot like this. I think you have the plumage perfectly rendered, I love the red shoulders! The background looks pretty well ideal. I have a tiny weeny suggestion for you to consider (I haven't looked at previous comments so forgive me if this has already been mentioned).
    The eye highlight/catchlight looks a tiny bit large or bright, and I would tone down the bill just a tad. Other than that it's a gem!

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    BPN Viewer Matt Fragale's Avatar
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    fantastic shot. I love the background contrast with the bird and the motion of the wings and sharpness of the tail. Beautiful!

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    What a great shot of this amazing bird! The BG is super sweet as is the light. Fantastic!

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    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
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    You should do grab shots more often!! Very nice comp and love the BG. No nits from me,
    Gail

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Thanks a stack for all the kind words everyone. Always appreciated.

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    Stu, what a killer shot. that tail and being so perfectly parallel to it with that sweet BG and light...one of ur best, I'd say.

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