Scissor-tail with Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted November 5, 2010108 views6 comments

This scissor-tailed flycatcher was photographed at Lake Casablanca State Park in Laredo Tx. The photo was taken in the late afternoon. I have several images of this species but this one displays orange coloring & the tail nicely in soft light. They are usually perched on electric wires and fences and sometimes wonder if it is to catch insects easier & avoid tree branches due to their long tails.

Canon 7D, 100-400 mm lens, f5.6, ISO 640, 1/400, shot from car window.

Thanks for viewing and comments.

Carlos Escamilla
Laredo Tx

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 5, 2010 at 9:53 PM

Hi Carlos, this is a nice pose and I like the warm light. The perch doesn't bother me, as like you say, it is a typical perch for the species. Compositionally I'd prefer less room on the left and more on the right for the bird to look into. I might try a bit more sharpening, and I think the image might be a touch on the bright side.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on November 6, 2010 at 9:29 AM

This image has a nice quality to it. I like the pose. I don't mind the barbed wire perch the bird is on, but I find the lower wire distracting. Exposure looks a little bright on the throat. Maybe recoverable? I agree with the comment about the composition. A little less on the left, a little more on the right. The strong diagonal of the tail, with the head turn would benefit from more room on the right. That said, this is still a nice image of a Scissor-tail.

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

Comment posted by Carlos Escamilla on November 6, 2010 at 12:19 PM

I have moved the scissor tail to the left, lowered brightness and tried sharpening. Hope this image is more appealing. Thanks for the comments.

Carlos

Registered on September 20, 2010, 18 Posts, 14 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on November 6, 2010 at 12:43 PM

lovely shot of this bird would prefer less room on the left though and a tad more on the right and I think the only bright bit is just under the beak part maybe could tone that down a tad but very nice

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on November 6, 2010 at 1:50 PM

Carlos,
the repost works better for me. Beautiful bird and pose. The lower wire is a bit distracting for me. Overall a very nice image.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on November 6, 2010 at 2:28 PM

Hi Carlos. I like the composition much better in the repost. Overall tones look better as well. Nicely done.

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