Ash-throated FC w/REPOST

Gallery: AvianPosted June 11, 201089 views11 comments

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC

This Ash-throated Flycatcher was moving from perch to perch in my yard, so I hurriedly opened the window and grabbed the camera. I didn't check the dial, which had gotten turned from Aperture priority to Shutter priority with a slow SS, and I quickly snapped off a few shots. So, the techs are not what I would have chosen given another couple seconds, but I think it worked out all the same at 1/160, f/10, ISO 100, using my couch as a beanbag. Crop to 78% (14 of 18MP).

Obvious flaw is that the bill does not stand out well enough. Other than that I think it looks good. I reduced brightness on the perch around the feet.

Comments and critiques are appreciated. Please view larger version if possible.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 11, 2010 at 4:42 PM

Brian: nice sharp exposure of the flycatcher. I really like the small curve in the branch the bird is actually sitting on. Your own self critique regarding the bill is true. At f/10, you have more depth than would have been optimal. The background pulls me away from the bird with the branch intersecting the head. The OOF branch in the LLC also draws me away as it is very contrasty against the dark background. Just some honest nits as I see them.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 11, 2010 at 4:45 PM

Good job getting a really nice grab shot of this flycatcher Brian. A little less depth of field and more blurred bg might have made it even better but you know that already.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 11, 2010 at 7:34 PM

Good results in the circumstances. I agree with your own critique. For as often as I get to see this species I have almost no usable photos of it and would be happy with this in ly files.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on June 11, 2010 at 7:43 PM

Thanks for the comments, I went back and reworked this a little. For some reason, the shadow/highlight tool often slips my mind, so I used the shadow part of it to help the bill stand out a little better, and in ACR I used the adjustment brush to reduce the exposure on the branches. I may have overdone the adjustment and darkened them too much, let me know what you think.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 12, 2010 at 1:09 AM

The repost looks better Brian. Really nice pose and good sharpness.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 12, 2010 at 1:37 AM

Nice work on the re-post. It's a good bird under any circumstances.

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

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on June 12, 2010 at 8:16 AM

Very nice, Brian. I like the setting and eye contact here. The repost is perfect.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on June 12, 2010 at 6:12 PM

No nits at all for the repost, Brian. Lovely shot. Nice delicate coloration.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on June 12, 2010 at 8:57 PM

Brian,
I like the shot anyway. The background distracts a little bit but what a great perch. Exposure is spot on for my monitor. Obviously great depth of field with the whole bird being sharp with good feather detail. Maybe a 5.6 or even 6.3 would have blurred more of the background out but NOT much. Those branches are really close so I don't really think it would have made a huge difference. The only nit for me would be the big branch that Keith mentioned on his critique going through the birds head. Otherwise, very nice post Brian.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on June 13, 2010 at 4:03 PM

Brian,

I prefer the repost and really can not add much to your own self-critique. It is a beautiful flycatcher species

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on June 15, 2010 at 12:40 AM

Wonderfully sharp photo, Brian. A really nice ID shot.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments