GB Spiderhunter #2

Gallery: AvianPosted March 19, 201195 views12 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 500mm f/4L IS USM, Shutter Priority @ f/4 (1/500 sec), ISO 640, Exposure Compensation: +2/3, Tripod, JPG from RAW

Decided to show you another of my shots of the Grey-Breasted Spiderhunter today. Although I don't know for sure, seeing as this one is a little smaller in build than the previous one I showed you and the eye is more of a brownish colour, my guess is this one is the female, whereas the previous one was of the male.

Whatever the case, of the scores of photos I took of these of this elegant and beautiful species, this is certainly one of my favourites ;^)

That said, happy to receive alternative perspectives by way of opinions, suggestions and/or recommendations :^)

PP: Cropped off about 25% from the RHS, top and bottom; these little birds were far too flighty for me to be able to try any other composition through the viewfinder other than have them bang in the middle, that is, if I was to stand any chance of acquiring sharp focus on the eye. I also cloned out a couple of pieces of light-coloured twigs, as I found these far too distracting to the eye for my taste. Smoothed out the BG with Surface Blur.

Thank you for viewing :^)

Kind regards,

Ashley

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on March 19, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Ashley: What a cool flora shot. The bird adds a lot

All kidding aside this is wonderful. Superb comp and capture. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 19, 2011 at 4:32 AM

Thanks Bill, perhaps I should have posted this up in your forum instead - LOL ;^)

Seriously, real pleased you like this one :^)

Cheers!

Ashley

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on March 19, 2011 at 6:10 AM

Very interesting subject and I love the way it's presented. Maybe a little bit more room at the bottom to include the tail? Although it might ruin the nice composition that you have here at the moment. Beautiful picture, thanks for sharing.

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 19, 2011 at 7:40 AM

Ashley that is beautiful and I love the dof

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 19, 2011 at 8:12 AM

Love it Ashley. Saw this one on your website and wondered when you'd post it. Great detail and setting and a good job to get the leaves, flower and bird in focus.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Harry Harris on March 19, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Ashley, When you first posted at the first of the month, I commented that I was looking forward to see more of your images from that part of the Avian world. You have not let me down, in fact your images have blown be away.

This is one of my favorites. My wife loves it and that says a lot. She has a better eye than me. The flower is such a big plus IMO. Your specs as usual are spot on.

Thanks for posting,

Harry

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 19, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Terrific capture! For me, I think it is important to include all of the "virtual" tail in this photo.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 19, 2011 at 6:12 PM

Terrific photo, and if you cropped from the bottom, can you put it back? Including the tail would put this over the top! What a beautiful creature! Love the flower, too! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 20, 2011 at 12:32 AM

Many thanks Andrius, Cheryl, Rob, Harry, KC, and Sharon, your feedback and suggestions are very much appreciated :^)

Rob: I take it you mean my Flickr stream, as I've yet to set up a domain and website of my own ;^)

KC & Sharon: Although it really won't add that much more to the "virtual tail", there is indeed a sliver I cropped from the bottom edge, however, I did this LR3 before making all the other adjustments in PS, which will mean me having to start again from scratch in order to reintroduce it. I hope you'll understand if I don't do that now for reposting, all the same, your observation is well noted for future reference and, before I make a print of this, you can be sure I'll work it back in again ;^)

While of course I beam with joy at praise, my main reason for being here is to see things through the eyes of others and learn from the points and suggestions made, so once again, thank you all very much.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead :^)

Ashley

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 20, 2011 at 12:38 PM

Nice job Ashley. I'd be inclined to tone down the light green foliage on the right edge even more. It should go without looking too gray if you desaturate it when you lower the brighness.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on March 20, 2011 at 5:28 PM

A very beautiful photo, I agree with the suggestions others have made, you have lots of options, this is a real prize winner!

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 20, 2011 at 10:02 PM

Many thanks Rick and Doug for viewing and leaving comments :^)

Rick: Thank you for your suggestion of desaturating the lighter coloured leaf on the right. Should have noticed that myself, but this is one of the main reasons I became a member of NPN; so good people like you could point out to me the things I might have overlooked ;^)

Wishing you a great week ahead :^)

Ashley

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments