Chukar

Gallery: AvianPosted February 16, 2010198 views17 comments

Alectoris chukar

I don't recall having ever posted any of my Chukar images yet so I thought I would present this one. This was taken last May, the Chukar had been on the other side of the road and ran across it, so I hopped from one side of the pickup to the other and took a few shots. I like how I got the view of the back with a head turn and still got the striped pattern on the side. I also like the setting.

D200, lens resting on pickup window, f5.6, 1/1250, ISO 400, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light, minimal processing, 57% of the original image.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques. Thank you for looking.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Ross McClure on February 16, 2010 at 6:39 PM

Mia,
Your subject has just seen you, and you have fired the shutter at just the right moment.
I like it!
Ross
Golden, Co.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 16 Posts, 66 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 16, 2010 at 7:48 PM

I love it! The soft pastel tones of the setting are simply wonderful. A great understated image with a bird I've yet to see (not too many of those left in the Lower 48).

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 16, 2010 at 7:55 PM

This is really nice Mia. I like the back view with the head turn. I had one of these on my property years ago and it turned out to be an escapee from a local shooting preserve. I had never seen one before and it was pretty exciting! You don't note your f stop here and I'm curious as to what you used. The whole bird is in focus and it includes just the right amount of bg. Definitely up to the "Mia Standard"! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 16, 2010 at 7:58 PM

Rich

I drive a Jeep, the pickup isn't mine

Sharon, sorry I forgot to add the f-stop, it was F5.6.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 16, 2010 at 8:12 PM

Lia,

Interesting pose of this Chukar with good detail and sharpness. I'd chop a little off the top if this were mine

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 16, 2010 at 9:14 PM

I like how he is lloking out into the field. I like your choice of dof as well and the side view of the stripe on the eye and the eye itself

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 16, 2010 at 11:04 PM

Mia, I find it interesting how that, despite that the colors are quite subdued, the bird still is clearly distinguished from the surroundings. Just beautiful as posted.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 17, 2010 at 5:53 AM

Ah-ha, reduced to photographing ferals

Sorry, just jealous.
Love the low perspective and the way the bird blends into, and yet stands out from, the background.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 17, 2010 at 7:54 AM

Love the colors in this one Mia. I also like the rear view of the bird with the nice head turn. Your exposure looks spot on and sharpness is super. One of these days I will find a nit in one of your images. Not today.

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

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on February 17, 2010 at 9:50 AM

I would love to get a shot of one of these. I guess there are none here in this part of AZ.

Great shot Mia.

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

Comment posted by dan elster on February 17, 2010 at 12:45 PM

Beautiful compostion.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 17, 2010 at 6:27 PM

Cool species Mia. We had one show up in town awhile back and it was a real surprise. I like the tones here and the comp

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on February 17, 2010 at 8:31 PM

I like many images taken from the rear and this one is very nice. The head turn and the spikey folage does it for me.

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 17, 2010 at 9:38 PM

I like the soft colors and lighting in this one Mia

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

Comment posted by Chris Ross on February 18, 2010 at 3:35 AM

Very nice Mia, like the pose and the setting overall, captured in pleasing soft light.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 18, 2010 at 12:53 PM

Lovely setting, light and composition, Mia. These are one of my favorite mountain partridges. I mostly see them scurrying on the road in the high mountains in India. Great shot!

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 18, 2010 at 7:23 PM

Mia:
Don't know how I missed this striking bird when I was commenting yesterday. Yes, it is a pose with an unusual angle that still captures the unusual markings of the Chukar. I like the way you framed it, keeping the clump of grass intact. Excellent colors and sharpness.

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