Prairie Chickens 1

Gallery: AvianPosted April 13, 2011248 views19 comments

I had the opportunity to visit Prairie Chicken leks on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands this week. If you ever have the chance it's a wonderful experience. The forestry service sets up blinds for public use and all you have to do is sign up and follow their very simple and reasonable rules. The birds are just getting into dancing season and hormones are running high making for a really exciting experience. I've been there before so this time I went with the intention of getting something other than classic dancing poses. I got a few that I like, and am really interested in feedback.

1D4, 500 f4, iso 800, 1/1600, f 8.0, propped on blind window, about 50% crop

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 13, 2011 at 8:10 PM

Stunning. It feels a bit centered, but I can't suggest a crop that I like better than your presentation. Any more room on the top to give that one wing a bit of extra room? I'd love to have something like this in my collection.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 13, 2011 at 8:30 PM

Oh, yes. Love this shot Keith. Great position by both birds and f/8 seems to have given enough DOF to get both birds sharp. Love the colors and the habitat gradation from sharp to smooth. One very small area of the white feathers under the right bird's left wing looks a bit bright, but that is a very small nit on a wonderful shot. I would love a chance to shoot these birds. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 13, 2011 at 8:32 PM

sweet light and great action, Keith. I really like the colors and setting here. I agree that the comp seems a little centered--since the action feels to me like it's moving to the left, I'd suggest taking a little off the right and adding a little on the left (along with a tiny bit at the top if you have it).

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 13, 2011 at 8:56 PM

Great action between the competing birds in that beautiful golden light, good detail in both birds. I am wishing for a little more up top too. Looking forward to seeing more Kieth.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on April 13, 2011 at 9:16 PM

WOW! This is the most striking prairie chicken image I have seen. I do mirror the canvas adjustment suggestion, but only a minor detail. Great work!

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on April 13, 2011 at 9:22 PM

Terrific action image, Keith. I like the center placement of the chickens and inclusion of grass which accentuate their aerial acrobatics. Both the chickens are sharp and their open beak poses add to the drama. Wonderful light & background. Congrats on getting this. I too am planning to see this in a couple of weeks.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on April 13, 2011 at 9:36 PM

Keith, Wow, I love the action and both birds seem sharp to me. I would like to see a little more room at the top if you have it. You have really captured two birds totally focused on each other and not in a friendly manner. Great capture.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 13, 2011 at 10:19 PM

Nice action with a perfect dof for this shot. I like it! Sharon

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 13, 2011 at 10:27 PM

Keith,
What a great action shot. Love the details and colors of the dead brush. With a 50% crop do you have any more room on top and the left side? I see the right bird is facing towards the left side of the image and the left bird slightly turned towards the left side of the image and I wonder if adding more canvas to the left and cropping just a touch from the right would give this a better composition? Just a thought. Beautiful image Keith. Would love to see something like this.

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

Comment posted by Bryan Hix on April 13, 2011 at 10:32 PM

Love it. The action and sharpness in that setting is perfect. Congrats.

Registered on June 13, 2008, 117 Posts, 755 Comments

Comment posted by Murali Santhanam on April 14, 2011 at 3:44 AM

From the smiles on the faces of the birds, it is clear that they are dancing and not fighting. The action has been captured wonderfully in a crisp and clean image. I love the harmony of colors in this image. Well taken.

Registered on July 31, 2008, 43 Posts, 331 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on April 14, 2011 at 6:09 AM

Very fine image with lots of artistic qualities. The captured detail and poses and the OOF complimentary BG really all comes together in this fine work of art. Congrats. Keith, well done!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 14, 2011 at 8:41 AM

A really "clean" image. Most of these types of shots I've seen have a lot of foreground grass interference. Not in this case, and gold tones are great. Obviously more room at the top would have been ideal, but at least they stayed in the frame.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 14, 2011 at 10:26 AM

Tremendous action shot and great focus and dof. I am going to be in a blind on a Prairie Chicken lek at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska next Tuesday and I will be very excited if I come away with any shots even half this good.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 14, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Great action, Keith. Looks like a lot of fun to photograph. You caught these two just right.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 14, 2011 at 11:05 AM

Wonderful action Keith, lovely natural colors, light and setting. Love the interaction between the birds. If you have a little more room on the top I might consider allowing more space there. I too would love a chance to photograph these birds.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 14, 2011 at 6:14 PM

Spectacular. A mid air joust and all that detail.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 14, 2011 at 9:15 PM

Super action Keith, this must have been fun to photograph. Great catch here, you got both beaks open, both birds sharp and almost totally separated. I would prefer a little more room at the top if you have it, congrats.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 16, 2011 at 9:50 AM

Wonderful behavior/action here Keith. More room up top would be nice but this is excellent.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments