Western Tanager

Gallery: AvianPosted August 1, 201074 views9 comments

Just returned from a couple weeks in the Canadian Rockies. More of a hiking trip than a photography trip. I didn't return with any new bird photos, but enjoyed grizzlies, black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, pronghorn, hoary marmots, pika, rosy-finches and lots of great mountain and glacier views.

This is a male Western Tanager from before I left, perched in a Gambel Oak. Comments and critiques are appreciated, please view larger version if possible.

7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, monopod.

1/800, f/6.3, ISO 640, +2/3 EC in the field (then reduced 0.45 in PS).

cloned out a tiny bright spot, minimal levels and curves, sharpened the bird and NR on the bg.

Crop to 64% (11.5 of 18MP)

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 1, 2010 at 12:42 PM

Glad to hear you had a good time, Brian. This is a beauty. Wonderful detail and the sprig of oak leaves behind the bird mimics the angle nicely.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 1, 2010 at 1:12 PM

Very nice image; excellent detail and good pose.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on August 1, 2010 at 1:15 PM

Really nice Brian. Love the colors and sharpness of the bird. Although the totally blurred distant BG would have let the bird stand out more, I realize these guys don't stay in one place long and there was probably little option for BG. Nice as posted.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 1, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Brian,

Love the pose, the colors, the oaks in the background and the light. Really lovely details too.

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

Comment posted by Dan Moore on August 1, 2010 at 3:04 PM

Brian,Nice detail and comp.Sweet job on the sharpening.

Dan

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

Comment posted by Buck Ward on August 1, 2010 at 10:04 PM

Great sharpness. I especially like the effect the catchlight seems to have on the overall image. The background of oak leaves is okay, but I'm a fan of bokeh.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 2, 2010 at 12:34 AM

Excellent detail and sharpness Brian, the bg leaves add a lot of depth to this shot.