Northern Mockingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted November 16, 2009155 views16 comments

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Place: Gilbert, AZ, USA
Date: November 9, 2009
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, sidekick
ISO 400, aperture priority spot meter, 1/350th second @ f/8, -1/3rd ev compensation
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, slight crop for proportion

An early morning shot. I was attracted by the spotlight effect and the setting. I like the inquisitive position and the way the leaves "bend" around the bird.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 16, 2009 at 11:19 AM

Rich, I like this. Very good light on the bird and especially the face. I also like the setting. Great detail and DOF. Very nice all around image.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 16, 2009 at 11:29 AM

I really like the inquisitive pose you captured and the attractive lighting. To me, the image seems a little heavy comp wise on the right side and if you had more room in the original on the right I would include it and less on the left, but that's personal taste.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 16, 2009 at 12:08 PM

I'd say this is one of the prettiest NMB photos I've ever seen - It's easy to make them look evil and mean, a lot harder to make them look cute and inquisitive like you have here. I too like how the leaves bend around the bird, and it's matched by the birds pose. Well seen and photographed.

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 16, 2009 at 12:54 PM

Outstanding lighting and expression of the bird, Richard.
As Nate, I would give more room on the right and less on the left.
That being said, this is a great shot

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 16, 2009 at 1:03 PM

Very nice. Great little head turn. Lovely setting.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Carrie O'Brien-Sib on November 16, 2009 at 1:33 PM

Very nice, Richard. I love the lighting here...bg fantastic for my taste.

Registered on August 4, 2009, 149 Posts, 889 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on November 16, 2009 at 2:46 PM

I'm amazed nobody mentioned that the bird only has one leg Rich ! ?

A nice natural habit shot nonetheless. The steep angle does not bother me.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 16, 2009 at 4:03 PM

This is really superb. The light is perfect, and the pose is beautiful. Very nice habitat, and I agree, I especially like the vegetation curving around on the left. I'm fine with the centered comp although I wouldn't mind seeing it both ways. Very well done.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on November 16, 2009 at 6:41 PM

Nothing bad to say here. Love the light, pose, comp, setting. Great shot. Just wondering it does appear he has lost his leg or is it tucked up in there so perfect you just can not see it?

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 16, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Rich, this one blew me away when I saw it on your blog a couple of days ago. The curve of the bird matching that of the background leaves and the beautiful lighting on the mockingbird are subtly wonderful. This is one of the few cases where I actually prefer the tail to be a little OOF and your relatively centered comp works perfectly for me with the competing "directions" of the bird's body and head.

I love this - one of my favorites of yours, for sure.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 16, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Rich,

The early morning light did make the mockingbird seem to glow and the setting is very appealing.

I love the pose with the head slightly tilted downward, as if the mocking bird were curious about the man behind the lens. I love the laciness of the foliage, the blue sky in the background and the way the light is hitting the bird’s chest and eye.

As usual the image has your thumbprint on it and the techs looks wonderful.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 17, 2009 at 12:16 AM

Sweet pose and light. It pays to get out there early.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 17, 2009 at 12:26 AM

Nice one Richard, the early morning light and cocked head are wonderful

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by richard ettlinger on November 17, 2009 at 4:18 PM

Like the head turn and light! Well done!

Registered on June 17, 2004, 377 Posts, 1565 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on November 18, 2009 at 12:58 AM

Beautiful image, Richard. The lighting, the one-legged perch and the endearing head turn are really great. Also, I think it's notable that despite all of the branches, none of them are a distraction. The bird fits so well and is so visible.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on November 19, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Love the eye, the detail and beautiful fanned tail

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments