Singing for their Supper

Gallery: AvianPosted January 10, 2011289 views10 comments

I wish the youngster on the far right was more in focus, but even so, this is still one of my favorites from last year. I've tried to get a behavioral composition like this for the last couple of years...this is as close as I have been able to get.
Pentax K10D, 80-320 zoom @320mm, f6.3, 1/125, iso 200. Diffused flash used for fill.

As always, all C&C welcome and appreciated.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on January 11, 2011 at 6:07 PM

OMG wow what timing. They look like they're all hitting the high note in unison.

What was Mom making her way back? They all seem to be looking right at what they believe is their next meal.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Bachofer on January 12, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Outstanding photo Toni. I tried this with a Robin's nest and wasn't nearly this successful. Good gleam in their eyes - very nice work.

Registered on August 1, 2005, 32 Posts, 142 Comments

Comment posted by Toni Lankerd on January 12, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Thanks!

Rebecka..yes, the parents were flying in and out of the area. They didn't seem to mind the fact that I was standing less than 15 feet away from the nest. Living in the apartment complex where the Swallows nest, they are used to people coming and going! Time(ing) and patience pays off :)

Registered on January 3, 2005, 360 Posts, 4004 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Dougherty on January 13, 2011 at 5:22 PM

Toni
This is a wondeful shot! An adorable choir indeed!

Registered on March 7, 2009, 4 Posts, 15 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Schwarz on January 14, 2011 at 2:12 PM

This is a great capture. I've tried to get something like this a couple of times but haven't come close to this one.

Registered on November 29, 2006, 236 Posts, 1210 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Richards on January 14, 2011 at 8:32 PM

Aye, Yi, yi yi? (Three Amigos?). Toni, this is spectacular. I certainly hope you are planning to submit it to a birding publication (birds and blooms or something). Its got it all. Behavior, children, singing. And, I don't see any problem with the focus. The eye on the guy on the right appears sharp. And nice catchlight in all three. It seems natural to me that as they get more distant they are less sharp. I also think you got just the right balance of "environment" and closeup. Bravo!

Registered on November 7, 2010, 37 Posts, 114 Comments

Comment posted by Toni Lankerd on January 14, 2011 at 9:01 PM

Thank you very much :)

Andy, I haven't submitted it to any magazines yet, but did upload it to a stock agency a few weeks ago, where it received a high rating.

I forgot to mention...the original image had a bit more "environment" in it than I wanted, so I ended up cropping part of the bottom of the image and the right side (about 30% total). The bottom of the nest was, shall we say...quite crappy?

I cropped that portion out in all versions!

Registered on January 3, 2005, 360 Posts, 4004 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Vance on January 15, 2011 at 2:18 PM

Very nice Toni! You captured these little guys at just the right moment. Mom must have been very close by as they look like they are more interested in breakfast than the photographer.

Registered on October 31, 2008, 26 Posts, 136 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on January 15, 2011 at 4:39 PM

Very cool! Nice capture Toni!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Kerry Leibowitz on January 25, 2011 at 12:47 AM

Great timing, Toni--perfect, actually. If I were creating a title for this image I'd label it "The Chorus."

Registered on November 1, 2003, 167 Posts, 5800 Comments