Marsh Wren, take two

[dankearl]

I went back to the same location this morning, shot at f8 and still could not quite get the DOF needed to get the tail sharp.
They are just so small, (hummingbird size) you have to get pretty close.
May f11 next time? I do like the call, they are fun to watch.
1/1000
f8
iso800
600mm (300 w/2x)
Nikon D800

DSC_0390bp.jpg

[Andrew Merwin]

Dan, I like this image a lot. I like that both feet are visible, the perch, the BG, the sharpness & detail. It is also neat that his tongue is visible. Well captured.

[laurie golden]

I have the same problem with wrens (marsh, Pacific and Bewick's). f11 may help, also try for some shots where the tail is at the same distance from you as the bird's head. I hope you have lots more opportunities this spring.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Dan this is even better than the previous one, I wouldn't die in a ditch over the tail, chances are it will be in focus only if you get a lateral view ninety degrees to the camera. It's nice if it is in focus but lets face it even when we see wrens, let alone photograph them, it is rare to clearly see the tail and head simultaneously. I agree with Andrew that little tongue just adds a little je ne sais quoi. (it's about 48 years since I did French - bet I have misspelled)

[Ryan Schain]

I like the sharpness, singing pose, and the perch. I don't mind the OOF tail at all. If this were mine, I'd tone down the highlights in the throat, lose the OOF plants in the background, and add some canvas to the bottom and the right (It's a bit tight for my taste). I also wish the head was turned towards you, and not slightly away, as that would be improved on the image.

[Colin Knight]

Awesome! No negatives I see.

[James Fuller]

I would keep the oof reeds, and think this would work well as a vertical, showing more habitat on the bottom if you have it IMO.

[dankearl]

Thanks for the comments.
The highlights on the throat are not even close to being blown, I also wish I had more reeds in the BG, without them, it is just a bird on a stick.
I had a bit more room but this is almost full frame. I put the 2x on today, I should have had a 1.4, i might have gotten all in focus.

[christopher galeski]

good image,nice pose,good detail,well done.

[dankearl]

Actually, i am sorry, a long day and I took and processed a bunch of photos.
This was not close to full frame, a big crop actually, I could have left more reeds in and more room.
The D800 is sort of like adding another extender on your camera.
This is the original out of camera, converted to jpeg only photo.

DSC_0390bp2.jpg

[Ofer Levy]

I like this a lot! Here is a looser crop with some boost in colours and contrast - what do you think?

[dankearl]

Ofer, thanks, I like yours. The looser crop does look better, as I said, I like reeds and foliage in bird photos, I should have left more in
like you did.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Dan, terrific shot. Its always great to see the peak bill-open pose. and that upright tail. details are great. D800 looks awesome. It opens up so many croping options. With this, I might just go with Ofer's crop...or vertical. In the OP, the foot is a little too close to the edge, IMO.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dan, great calling pose, and the hint of the tongue puts this up a notch. The BG in this is far cleaner, and yes, we all wish we could get first prize every time we press the shutter. Well done.

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful detail for such a tiny bird. These are really tough to photograph. Love the singing pose, and the BG. The oof reeds, as you say, keep it from being just a bird on a stick. I could also imagine a crop somewhere in between Ofer's and your OP.