Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Kingbird on Mullein w repost
‹ PreviousPhoto Art GalleryNext ›

Kingbird on Mullein w repost

by Pat Sampson

Gallery: Photo ArtPosted June 16, 20101,621 views13 comments
It's a western kingbird of course.

I've reworked this now several times trying to get what I want out of it which is pretty much as always the way the scene felt to me when I shot it.

Canon 500mm w 1.4tc
Canon 7D
RAW, LRIII, CS5, Macbook Pro 17, beanbag on car window in a light rain.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

Pat

Comments

13 comments
Comment posted by Ken Smith on June 16, 2010 at 10:15 PM
...always like to see the sharpness of eye...and some crisp feathers...this hits that perfectly. The bird pops off my monitor...head and shoulders and yellows are almost a-glow. The net effect is really a good 3d effect. I like the width, glad you kept the intruding grasses on left...seems better balanced. Ken S
Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments
Comment posted by Pam Colander on June 16, 2010 at 10:29 PM
I love the composition and the detail on the kingbird is superb, esp. in the larger view. The thin BG grass stems on the right and left frames are somewhat distracting for me. I don't know if it's my monitor but the head and shoulder coloring looks lavender instead of grey. Nice catch!
Registered on December 7, 2006, 210 Posts, 1062 Comments
Comment posted by Pat Sampson on June 16, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Thank you both for the comments.

Pam,

I debated cloning those out but decided to try and keep the scene more chaotic. I may still go after them though. I don't see the lavender on my monitor but it could also be a difference in the browser or my color vision for that matter. Thank you for the comments. I appreciate them.

Pat
Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 17, 2010 at 1:31 AM
Pat, I love the soft feel and subtle colors here.
Sharp eye as a focus, and nice comp.
Really nice!
Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by David W. Kelly on June 17, 2010 at 7:29 PM
A real work of art Pat. :toast:
Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on June 18, 2010 at 3:13 PM
Hi Pat, This is lovely. I know you love the clone tool anyway (or I suppose in CS5 the content aware spot healer brush :smile: ) so I would suggest removing the thin BG grass that goes up through the tip of the tail and the similar two in the ULC. For me they pull away from the image. I do see a bit of a bluish cast on the head of the Kingbird.

As you know I think this is all really cool stuff you are doing. :toast:

edited to add: I like that hot yellow blob in the BG out in front of the birds breast. :wink:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by Pat Sampson on June 19, 2010 at 6:53 AM
Here's the repost without the grass blades and with the violet almost completely desaturated. Thanks again Pamela and Peter.

Pat
Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Gallo on June 19, 2010 at 8:40 AM
Beautiful work Pat..........the pose of the bird, bg, and the perch are all working in perfect harmony....you started out with a great image and made it even better :toast:
Registered on September 14, 2005, 182 Posts, 1471 Comments
Comment posted by Pam Colander on June 19, 2010 at 7:47 PM
Perfection Pat!
Registered on December 7, 2006, 210 Posts, 1062 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on June 22, 2010 at 7:52 PM
A wonderful creation - congrats on the WP
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 22, 2010 at 8:01 PM
Pat - another beauty!
Great little bird, wonderful BG - Congrats on the EP!

Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Gallo on June 23, 2010 at 8:12 AM
Congrats on the EP Pat, well deserved
Registered on September 14, 2005, 182 Posts, 1471 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 23, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Congrats Pat :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments