Black-headed Grosbeak

Gallery: AvianPosted September 4, 201080 views13 comments

This is a Black-headed Grosbeak from the day before yesterday. I like the alert pose and the oak setting, especially the twig along the lower border.

Your comments and critiques are appreciated. Please view the larger version if possible.

Canon 7D, 500mm +1.4x TC, tripod.

1/800, f/8, ISO 400

Minor crop from the left for comp to 93% (16.6 of 18MP).

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 4, 2010 at 2:15 PM

A very nice image: good light, good view of the bird, nice background.

Still waiting for them to show up down here in Phoenix - a couple have been reported locally but I haven't seen any yet this fall.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 4, 2010 at 2:17 PM

Super sharp Brian. Love the light and the comp. My only wish is seeing a bit of the tail for balance, but hey, you take what they give you. A great species and a great image for sure.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on September 4, 2010 at 7:14 PM

Nice capture Brian - I like the alert pose, plumage detail and warm light.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on September 4, 2010 at 10:10 PM

Great light on this Grosbeak. Background is a big plus for this as well. Nicely captured.

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

Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on September 4, 2010 at 10:49 PM

Wonderful work Brian! I love the two pinky OOF spots on either side of the bird with it in between them. Congrats!

Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 4, 2010 at 11:28 PM

Beautiful, Brian. Nice light and I like the pose and perch a lot. The plumage has a bit of a grainy look to my eye, like there's some noise in it, but you shouldn't have anything significant at those settings unless you sharpened this a lot.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on September 5, 2010 at 6:15 AM

Beautiful shot, Brian. I love the warm light, the nice perch and pose.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on September 5, 2010 at 12:17 PM

Nice shot of this female.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on September 5, 2010 at 1:02 PM

Beautiful image Brian.
May

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on September 5, 2010 at 2:42 PM

The detail and alert pose along are great, Brian. All of the colors work so well together here too.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on September 5, 2010 at 6:12 PM

Great detail, lighting and i like the inquisitive pose. Also like this perch

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on September 5, 2010 at 8:18 PM

Brian,
I love the setting as well but what puts it over the top for me is the backround with the purple clusters on either side of him. Exceptional Brian.

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

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on September 6, 2010 at 12:00 PM

Hi Brian,
Great lighting and sharpness. The small branch with that single leaf really adds to the composition, well done.

Ronnie

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments