Tennis ball with wings + rework

Gallery: AvianPosted October 27, 2010200 views17 comments

This is a young Great Tit and as the title says, it looks like a tennis ball with wings doesn't it

This was taken through my living room window, I have a feeding station about 10 feet away and can watch all kinds of birds come and go while sitting in front of my PC, Luxury eh?

Sony A350
Sigma 50-500 EX
1/250th second
f8
ISO 400
500mm
-0.3 stop exposure compensation
Centre-weighted metering
Tripod
Almost full frame, I just used a little digital zoom to get in closer.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on October 27, 2010 at 8:19 AM

An apt description and a very nice capture in all respects. My only critique is that the color balance looks a bit off on my monitor. The whites in the wing look a little green/yellow and I would experiment with adding a little blue and/or cyan/red to see if it helps.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on October 27, 2010 at 8:29 AM

Thanks Robert

They don't have any white on them when they're very young, but as they get older the sides of their heads and parts of the wings gradually turn whiter.

Going from memory I don't see the colours looking out in this image, although there's no telling what I'm seeing on my monitor here compared to what others are seeing, it's a problem isn't it lol.

Geoff.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 27, 2010 at 9:39 AM

Great title, and I love this image.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Krunal Janani on October 27, 2010 at 10:21 AM

Apt title & a nice shot Geoffrey!

Registered on September 16, 2010, 60 Posts, 1370 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on October 27, 2010 at 12:39 PM

Colors look a little out to me. Otherwise an easy fix for a beautiful image!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 27, 2010 at 1:27 PM

The look back adds greatly to this! Well done.

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

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on October 27, 2010 at 2:31 PM

I've had a play with this image and did as suggested in Photoshop and I must admit it does look much "cleaner".

Thanks guys for the help, I'm sorry I doubted you, I should know better, you have much better eyesight and monitors than me

I just hope I haven't taken it too far in the opposite colour direction?

Geoff.

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on October 27, 2010 at 7:12 PM

Nice photo. I like the pose, perch and background. On my uncalibrated monitor, I like the color in the repost better.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on October 27, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Really nice shot Geoffrey. The repost looks the best to me.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Dusty Veideman on October 28, 2010 at 12:18 AM

Gotta love that armchair photography!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 295 Posts, 547 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 28, 2010 at 5:26 AM

Repost looks much better on my calibrated monitor Geoffrey. I like the image with the look back making it work for me. Nice fluffed look too.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 28, 2010 at 6:57 AM

Love the colours Geoffrey - a really warm feel about the shot

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on October 28, 2010 at 8:56 AM

It does, definitely.

Wonderful take, great details and background.

Paolo

Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on October 28, 2010 at 12:11 PM

Lovely shot great DOF and it is very cute

the repost looks better

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on October 28, 2010 at 8:47 PM

Really like the wings and the open bill. Great color as well!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 30, 2010 at 3:55 PM

Repost looks better on my calibrated monitor Geoffrey. Love the fluffed up pose and open bill.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on October 31, 2010 at 4:45 PM

Great capture and great title Geoffrey. The repost does look better but Not until I studied both images.
May

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