Vermilion Flycatcher

Gallery: AvianPosted January 19, 2010306 views31 comments

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Place: Sweetwater, Tucson, USA
Date: October 2, 2009
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, aperture priority spot metered @ -2/3rd stop, 1/750th @ f/10
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, moderate crop

From my recent trip to Tucson to look for a leucistic Vermilion Flycatcher that never showed up while I was there. Taken from essentially the same spot as my previous post (Black Phoebe).

I've seen a lot of people blow the exposure on this species, not realizing how bright the brilliant plumage is. I try to get my shots of them in soft light, and I always dial in -1/3 to -2/3 stop compensation. In this case I also switched to spot metering because of the amount of sky in the frame behind the bird.

If possible please view the larger version before commenting. Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 19, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Wow! This is awesome, Richard. The lighting is beautiful. That pose is really nice. Superb composition with a great background and perch. Just an all around superb image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on January 19, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Great lighting and perfect exposure. You really nailed this one and the curved perch makes the composition work so well.

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

Comment posted by Greg Schneider on January 19, 2010 at 9:50 PM

Your exposure looks great. As you mention, the red channel is easily blown out with a bird such as this. I love the slender perch.

Registered on February 9, 2008, 84 Posts, 138 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 19, 2010 at 10:04 PM

Rich, I'm envious of how often you get to shoot these beauties and always impressed with how well you control the reds. (I am among those who tend to blow them out, though hopefully not next time.) Beautiful light, and very nice background. I can't make up my mind on the comp--part of me wants the bird a little lower in the frame, part of me likes how the higher placement works with the curving perch.

I need to make the short trip down to warmer climes and shoot some birds like this--we're supposed to get 2-4 ft of snow Thurs/Fri (and 1-2 ft tonite and tomorrow) up here.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 19, 2010 at 10:17 PM

Thank you for the details. I have not photographed this bird, but a cardinal has similar challenges that I don't always overcome. Nice job.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Cordes on January 19, 2010 at 10:32 PM

Stunning! the BG really allows the bird to stand out. Your capture of the detail and wonderful color is first rate. The perch is just right.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 451 Posts, 3366 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on January 19, 2010 at 10:46 PM

A first class image of my favourite Flycatcher, and you've got the red channel nicely. You're right about how difficult it is to get this one spot on!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on January 19, 2010 at 10:54 PM

Caught the spirit of the bird. Very good photo. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on January 19, 2010 at 11:11 PM

beautiful colors ... aswesome image.

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 19, 2010 at 11:42 PM

A hard bird to pass by without taking a few... You really got the reds right on this one.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 20, 2010 at 12:05 AM

Reds look perfect, as does the bird, perch and background. I remember this species as a standout when I saw one one in Arizona some years ago.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Wilson on January 20, 2010 at 4:09 AM

Excellent image Rich! Great composition and the curve of the perch really works well for me.

Registered on May 17, 2006, 70 Posts, 1166 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on January 20, 2010 at 8:57 AM

Richard you pretty much nailed this and I can't add anything but a pat on the back

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 20, 2010 at 10:44 AM

Zowie...this is sweet. Species I have yet to see, but you're certainly making me want to come down there!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 20, 2010 at 11:31 AM

Wonderful! great exposure, comp. and detail. Great light. Really like it Richard.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 20, 2010 at 11:39 AM

Beautifully simple and elegant composition, Richard. I appreciate the tip on the exposure-it's the same technique I use on male goldfinches. The oof foliage in the bg adds a nice texture to the image.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 20, 2010 at 4:38 PM

One of your best I have seen Rich. Just superb. The exposure is right on the money and that is not easy with this species as you stated. The perch and BG just put this over the top as does the perfect DOF getting even the tail sharp. Top caliber for sure. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on January 20, 2010 at 6:03 PM

Beautiful Richard - everything works well here: composition, soft bg, arch of an interesting perch, great lighting. No nits here.

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Mustar on January 20, 2010 at 6:58 PM

This is a great mage! I love the sharpness and exposure of the bird. Also the plain background and the generous amount of room you have given him make this a very pleasing composition.

Registered on January 1, 2010, 13 Posts, 24 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 20, 2010 at 8:00 PM

Beautiful bird, great dainty perch. wonderful background, and the whole bird is sharp. But I think your composition is what puts this over the top for me, Richard.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 20, 2010 at 8:23 PM

Simply Beautiful

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 20, 2010 at 10:46 PM

Talk about a bird standing out from it's background, excellent shot Richard, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Ravee Wattanatanak on January 21, 2010 at 1:04 AM

Very nice light and smooth bg.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 105 Posts, 786 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 21, 2010 at 1:08 AM

As nice as I've seen of this species Richard - lovely detail and an attractive, but not dominating, perch.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 21, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Richard,

This is a great example of how your technical abilities, knowledge and skills as an avian photographer permit you to expose this challenging species without blowing those reds. Bravo, well done!

Should I come across one in the field I am sure I will be better equipped to photograph them because of the information you have shared with us on NPN and as I focus on the bird through my viewfinder I am sure your words here will be most helpful.

Excellent image as posted.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on January 21, 2010 at 11:16 AM

Richard: This is one of the best Vermilion Flycatcher shots I've seen. You nailed the problem with most shots blowing the reds. Your exposure looks right on to me. The background is a pleasant compliment as is the perch. The larger version really shows off the details. I really like this!!

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on January 21, 2010 at 1:19 PM

This is a beautiful photo of a Vermilion Flycatcher. I agree about the lighting, and the detail is great.

Laura Stafford

Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Jenkins on January 21, 2010 at 4:38 PM

Great DOF and feather detail. This is one of my favorite species. Great job, Richard.

Registered on April 20, 2008, 307 Posts, 604 Comments

Comment posted by Darren McKenna on January 21, 2010 at 8:28 PM

What a beautiful specimen, fine detail, though there is noise present.

http://darrenmckenna.com/

Registered on October 28, 2008, 31 Posts, 214 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 22, 2010 at 5:00 PM

Excellent exposure and dof. I really like your use of space in this image, as well.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 24, 2010 at 7:15 PM

A standout image Rich, in so many ways. I agree with all the superlatives already mentioned. Perhaps the most appealing image I've seen of the species yet. Excellent!

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