One Tough Summer

Gallery: AvianPosted August 20, 2010201 views12 comments

Well, I don't think I'll win any beauty contests with this one, but I liked the character inherent in this rather bedraggled looking Goldfinch. The molt has definitely not been kind to him (or maybe it's parenthood).

7D, 500mm + 1.4TC, Black Widow on Gitzo legs, f6.3, 1/2500, iso 400 Av mode with -1/3 compensation, cropped from horizontal to vertical. Normal processing in CS4, though I backed off considerably on my normal sharpening routine because of the skeletal nature of the plumage. Taken July 30th at 7:13 pm.

I processed this on my laptop and looking at it here, I think it might be able to use brightening a tad-comments?

I always appreciate receiving your comments and criticisms.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on August 20, 2010 at 5:05 PM

I do enjoy the colours in this image, especially with the lovely perch and bg. IMO a very engaging composition. Well done Dennis.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 20, 2010 at 5:16 PM

An excellent example of molting plumage, nice exposure and detail Dennis. The end of the red perch coming out the top of his head distracts me a bit but I do like the flower farther to the right.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 20, 2010 at 6:14 PM

I like seeing this plumage too Dennis. Your exposure looks good to me overall and I really like that head turn. Agree with Nate about the top of the red branch but for me it isn't a huge deal.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 20, 2010 at 7:24 PM

I like this as posted. Exposure/brightness is fine.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on August 20, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Nice pose with the head turn and I like the detail. Unfortunately it might be best used as a travel poster for those birds thinking about migrating south after a long hot summer!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 20, 2010 at 10:01 PM

Bedraggled is the term alright, Dennis. Nice detail and composition. I'm not sure if it's molting we are looking at here. Around here these fellows are nesting these days because the thistle seeds are available. I thought that they would molt later. Could be that he lost a mating battle of some kind. Also, sometimes I can obtain this dark look when I up the contrast too much in post processing (if he looks brighter in the unprocessed file I'd consider that).

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

Comment posted by David Buck on August 20, 2010 at 11:54 PM

Very nice pose, comp and exposure. It does look like he is wearing a hat. I still like photos of less desireable subjects, even they need their shot in the spot light.

Registered on October 31, 2007, 62 Posts, 97 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on August 21, 2010 at 6:27 AM

Looks very similar to the Siskin that we have over here in the UK.

A very nice, natural-looking capture.
Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 21, 2010 at 8:52 AM

See the same thing here Dennis. Most of the songbirds are "bedraggled", not counting the juveniles..
This goldfinch seems to have made up for it with that wonderful red head-dress, great fashion statement

Very well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 22, 2010 at 10:53 AM

This bird has character Dennis. I agree about the tip of the branch but other than that, I like this a lot. For what it's worth I had very little luck with goldfinches this summer. I ended up with only one mostly backlit image that I ended up keeping. I'd have been very pleased with this.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 22, 2010 at 7:50 PM

Love the scruffy look this goldfinch has Dennis, the head angle and the setting. Exposure and brightness look fine ot me.

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on August 22, 2010 at 9:19 PM

... Probably parenthood!

Ditto on the foliage behind his head; it's distracting to me. Wonderfully captured, otherwise.

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