Perpetual Motion

Gallery: AvianPosted March 17, 2010748 views50 comments

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
D300, 500mm f/4 + 1.7x tc, tripod
ISO 800, 1/640 sec, f/8
January 3, 2010 at St. Marks NWR, FL
I watched the gnatcatcher for several minutes (not always in the viewfinder!) and the wings and tail never stopped moving. I like the wing motion in this shot because it depicts the activity I was observing. Cropped to about 50% of full frame.
Comments and suggestions welcome.

Comments

50 comments

Comment posted by Cliff Dodge on March 17, 2010 at 4:52 PM

Beautiful shot!

Registered on March 25, 2006, 125 Posts, 507 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 17, 2010 at 4:57 PM

Gorgeous - especially like frozen pose, wispy shrub and smooth background. Very sharp too.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 17, 2010 at 5:12 PM

Your title is perfect for these active little birds. Love that upright tail that you captured on this. The perch is nice. Details in the larger version show off how well you did capturing this image.Motion blur in the wing helps convey the story.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 17, 2010 at 5:36 PM

This is so nice with the soft blue colors against the fluffy whites. Great job in getting him still for a moment

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 17, 2010 at 5:55 PM

Great image of this little guy, David. The flowers really work with the bird. A great composition.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 17, 2010 at 6:09 PM

A delightful shot - I do like the pose and flowers it is perched on.

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on March 17, 2010 at 6:11 PM

Great shot! Lovely colours and pose!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on March 17, 2010 at 6:15 PM

How beautiful! I love it.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on March 17, 2010 at 6:28 PM

Wonderful shot. I really like how the gnatcatcher is positioned in the frame. Great detail and very nice background.

Laura Stafford

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 17, 2010 at 6:59 PM

I love it! Pose is wonderful with the tail up and wing out and the fluffy flowers help show how light and flittery this little guy is. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Joe Paratore on March 17, 2010 at 7:18 PM

Love it great shot..... David
Love the angle on pose
Love the soft feel of the whole image.
And that tail sticking straight up Love it
Did I say I loved it

Doesn't get much better then that

Registered on January 31, 2007, 40 Posts, 160 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 17, 2010 at 7:40 PM

A cool shot David. The wren-like tail and complimentary BG make this one special.

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

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on March 17, 2010 at 7:49 PM

The perch, the clean background, the birds pose and the overall composition is all wonderful. Well done.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 17, 2010 at 8:18 PM

Really like everything about this one, the bird, the bird's pose, the flowers, the background, all the colors. Just terrific!

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 17, 2010 at 10:43 PM

Terrific image! Full of the character of these difficult little dynamos.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on March 17, 2010 at 11:56 PM

Beautiful. I love the pose and the flowery perch and BG are great. The position of the feet, the lowered head, the upright tail and the outstretched wing makes it look like he is bowing to a queen.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 18, 2010 at 1:48 AM

Kind of a whimsical microenvironment he's in that really suits this little perky tailed little guy. Really good detail, especially tough with this much magnification.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 18, 2010 at 2:24 AM

Excellent - the flowers are a perfect habitat, and the pose, colors, feather detail, and nice BG are all great.
Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 18, 2010 at 6:32 AM

One of your best David - great action and detail and a wonderful setting/perch

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by chris hajee on March 18, 2010 at 7:14 AM

stunning shot David, beautiful comp and detail

Registered on January 18, 2005, 179 Posts, 2384 Comments

Comment posted by R. Melvin Park on March 18, 2010 at 9:35 AM

Great shot of this little fellow, I like the composition with the flowers and background.
Nice work.

R. Melvin Park
Plumas, Manitoba

Registered on February 1, 2010, 21 Posts, 27 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 18, 2010 at 10:08 AM

super shot, as everyone has said, David. This is really nice in every respect. pose, detail, motion in the wing, habitat, bg, comp--everything is just right. congrats on this.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 18, 2010 at 11:14 AM

David,

This is delightful, love the great pose & setting, eye contact and the raised tail. I wouldn't change a thing.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on March 18, 2010 at 1:20 PM

Amazing capture. Beautiful colors throughout the image.
May

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 18, 2010 at 1:49 PM

One word David: Gorgeous!!!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Alex Mody on March 18, 2010 at 4:59 PM

Sweet shot!

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on March 18, 2010 at 5:07 PM

Everyone:
Thanks for the positive comments. I was not sure how the wing motion would be received or the expanse of fluffy white. The bird is perched in front of the Gulf of Mexico. It is low tide and I think we are seeing OOF water and sand/mud.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 18, 2010 at 6:13 PM

Superb! Just an all around great shot. Very well done David. Print it and hang it.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 18, 2010 at 7:46 PM

One of the best shots I've seen of this species David, you've captured his character perfectly!

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 19, 2010 at 12:35 AM

Brilliant, David. You've got the essence of the species here. Wonderful!

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on March 19, 2010 at 5:23 AM

Wonderful image. Great pose, lovely setting and a very nice background.

Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Cooley on March 22, 2010 at 4:12 PM

the limited color pallet and soft lighting makes this look like a painting. Wonderful capture David.

Registered on August 22, 2007, 45 Posts, 547 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 22, 2010 at 4:52 PM

Congratulations, this was my pick for EP, glad the moderators agreed with me.
May

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 22, 2010 at 4:57 PM

Congrats, David!

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on March 22, 2010 at 5:56 PM

Dave,

Huge congrats on getting this EP, it is very well deserved.

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

Comment posted by John Williams on March 22, 2010 at 6:18 PM

Awesome David, congrats on the EP!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on March 22, 2010 at 6:42 PM

David,

Well deserved!
I thought I catch them all but missed this one?? Glad I got it from the pick.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 22, 2010 at 6:47 PM

Just a superb image in every way Dave. An especially deserving pick IMO. Big congrats!

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 22, 2010 at 7:38 PM

Somehow missed this - great shot and congrats

- Luke

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on March 22, 2010 at 7:46 PM

David,

Well deserved!
I thought I catch them all but missed this one?? Glad I got it from the pick.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on March 22, 2010 at 8:57 PM

Extraordinary, congratulations on the well deserved editor's pick.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 23, 2010 at 12:06 AM

Congrats David

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

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on March 23, 2010 at 12:57 AM

great pose, BG and perch- a well deserved EP

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 23, 2010 at 2:12 AM

David, congrats on a very fine EP!
Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 23, 2010 at 3:14 AM

No possible way to improve this! Perfect timing and great concentration combined with good decisions on the technicals. Perfect wing blur, excellent clarity on all the rest and a bit of habitat to boot. Gees!

Glad you received the EP for this shot, David; congrats!

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on March 23, 2010 at 2:07 PM

David,
you posted this superb image when I was busy, so I hadn't yet seen it.
Congrats on EP so well deserved!

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 23, 2010 at 8:37 PM

A well deserved pick. I just had to see it again! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on March 23, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Hi David

Because of eye problems, i dont watch avian much like before. But seeing this in EP . I just have to make a comment. This is an awesome capture. The perch, The details of the bird. the composition. are all wonderful

Albert Darmo Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on March 24, 2010 at 4:19 PM

Hi David - this is a beauty, certainly deserving of the EP.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 29, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Great Shot David!!! Congrats on the EP

Ken Archer

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