Western Meadowlark

Gallery: AvianPosted April 18, 2011184 views14 comments

My family and I were on an afternoon drive when my dad spotted a Western Meadowlark perched on a post. The Meadowlark perched on the post long enough for my sister and I to get some pictures.

I know the Meadowlark is pretty small in the frame, and I could've cropped in a bit more (this is 59% of original) but I liked having more of the post and wires in the image. I also really liked his beak was opened in song...they have such a pretty sound!

Nikon D300
Nikkor 300mm AF-S with 1.4TC
ISO 200
1/1600sec @ f/5.6

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 18, 2011 at 4:51 PM

Jenaya, I like the bird small in the frame. I all the browns and then the burst of color in the frame that the bird provides. This is such an "iconic" view of a meadowlark. Always signing from a post it seems. Good exposure too. Just a bit of the yellows might be too bright, but that would be easily corrected if it is indeed the case. Nice image.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 18, 2011 at 6:33 PM

Nice image. The dof is very good and I like the comp. Fence posts are where you see Meadowlarks most of the time. My only question is how did you get close enough to it to get an image. I am shooting 400mm and every time I get to the point where I can get a decent image they are gone. Nice job.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 18, 2011 at 7:29 PM

Jenaya, you have such a nice eye for composition. I like your choice and wish I could find a meadlowlark! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 18, 2011 at 10:00 PM

very nice, Jenaya, a classic meadowlark scene. nice comp, colors, and setting. I like the weathered post.

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

Comment posted by Kevin Colton on April 18, 2011 at 10:21 PM

Very, Very nice. Not a lot of people can get this close to Meadow Lark. I love the browns and yellows, and I think you filled the frame just right. Keep up the good work and well done
Kevin

Registered on January 22, 2010, 5 Posts, 4 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on April 19, 2011 at 4:10 PM

I like this very much, Jenaya. This is where you find 'em-- on the fence posts. And this is usually how you find 'em-- singing their hearts out for our enjoyment. Good going. Your dad is a good spotter.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Dewhurst on April 19, 2011 at 4:32 PM

Lovely shot - colours and composition are great

Oscar

Registered on August 6, 2009, 85 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 19, 2011 at 4:38 PM

Jenaya,

I liek your composition, the size of the meadowlark in the frame because the post, wires & setting as as much a part of this image as the bird imo. To my eye the ywllow channel could be lowered some, the yellows are brighter right now than the rest of the year but these might be out of gamut in places. Also, I'd reduce contrast and try to lighten some of the darks because some of the blacks are blocked up and show little detail. That is easy to do.

*edited for a typo

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 19, 2011 at 7:49 PM

I saw my very first meadowlark pair yesterday and got very similar shots on a very similar post :) I too like the open beak and the great songs.

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on April 19, 2011 at 9:29 PM

I like this image very much, Jenaya. Even though the meadowlark is small, I can still make out details and it stands out well against the background. Nice singing pose and the perch and your comp make this interesting. Agree with others that you can bring the yellows down a notch.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 20, 2011 at 1:55 AM

Ordinarily I'm not a big one for manmade elements in bird and wildlife images, but this one works rather well, perhaps it has something to do with the parallel vertical and horizontal lines.

The pose and colours you captured of the Meadowlark are very appealing Jenaya :^)

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 21, 2011 at 3:50 AM

Nice one Jenaya - really like your comp and the burst of yellow

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on April 22, 2011 at 1:58 PM

Thanks for the comments and suggestions everyone!

Richard, you were wondering how I got this close to the Meadowlark. My dad and I were actually trying to get a shot of a group of cowbirds flying, then we spotted 2 Western Meadowlarks. The first one flew off, but the second guy (the one in this picture) perched on a fence post and started singing away and posing for pictures. Just as I was ready to get a lower angle on him he flew off!

Thanks again!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on April 22, 2011 at 2:02 PM

Beautiful shot , lovely DOF and wonderful colours!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments