Balancing Act

Gallery: AvianPosted February 15, 2010182 views19 comments

Last winter I had a good time with some Bushtits. This little one arrived on a perch I'd set up and I tripped the shutter just as this action took place. Not sure if it was balancing or just landing but I like the pose - it makes me smile. The light was pretty low so my shutter speed and aperture weren't quite what I would have preferred but c'est la vie.

1D3, 500 f4, ISO 640, 1/125 @ f5, FF -2/3. Slight crop. A little selective sharpening applied around the eye but not to the rest of the image.

Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for looking.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 15, 2010 at 2:49 AM

Love it!
Isn't it nice when they cooperate a bit?

The bird is a tad soft; perhaps a bit more sharpening would help.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on February 15, 2010 at 5:40 AM

Nicely captured you've frozen the movement well considering the low shutter speed. I agree it looks a little soft. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 15, 2010 at 6:23 AM

Ed,

You have managed to catch that split second moment at a bird gains its balance after landing. Very nice shot, I soon hope to be getting this quality out of my 500. I have ruled out defective equipment which only leaves defective photographer. LOL

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 15, 2010 at 7:30 AM

Nice action here Ed. I like the color of the bird again the BG and the overall comp. The BG looks a bit noisy, but that could be helped with some NR if deemed necessary by you. Overall, a nice image IMO.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 15, 2010 at 8:36 AM

Ed,

This young bird landing is adorable! I think it could use a little more sharpening but that you did very well under the conditions.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 15, 2010 at 8:36 AM

It is a little soft and a little noisy....but I like it just fine as posted, Ed. NIce capture, cute bird,fine setting.

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

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on February 15, 2010 at 9:41 AM

Good setup, Ed. Excellent BG and perch for this little bird. Perhaps a bit soft but very cute.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 15, 2010 at 10:04 AM

Nice pose that makes me smile, too! Since you have deliberately not sharpened anything but the eye, I assume this softness is the effect you wanted - I am enjoying it!

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

Comment posted by Sally King on February 15, 2010 at 10:25 AM

What a balancing act! Love those splayed wings and the look of uncertainty in his eye. Excellent background and perch for your well chosen setup.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on February 15, 2010 at 11:26 AM

Nice action Ed . What Kwan said!

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Milicia on February 15, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Great pose, background, and composition!
Looks like he's walking a tightrope

Registered on July 25, 2005, 145 Posts, 302 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 15, 2010 at 5:22 PM

The selective sharpening was a good decision. Great pose, very dynamic for such a little guy. Excellent as usual.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 15, 2010 at 5:56 PM

Sweet Ed! Nice movement captured.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 15, 2010 at 7:54 PM

Great capture and cute pose Ed!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 15, 2010 at 8:06 PM

Ed, I love the pose of this youngster and I think the softness somehow accentuates the tenuous position the little feller's in. I think your decision to sharpen only the eye was probably a good one, as soft as most of the bird is anyway.

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 16, 2010 at 8:19 AM

I like the colors in this image very much. Nice timing.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 16, 2010 at 2:49 PM

Super Cute!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 16, 2010 at 2:50 PM

Sweet pose Ed ! Looks like a little Angel

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on February 17, 2010 at 9:02 AM

Very nice. Like the muted colors both in the bird and bg. Cute little guy and with that wing up, a real nice comp.

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