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WC480 Swallow

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted April 24, 2011426 views15 comments

A violet Green to be precise. The birds were all over the back yard this morning, despite the return of our rainy spring after a couple of decent days. I couldn't resist bundling up the camera and giving it a try. The gray, rainy day really worked well with this guys plumage.

My wife has suggested removing the drops hanging from the shepherd's crook-opinions would be welcome.

1D MkIV, Black widow on Gitzo legs, f9, 1/250, iso 1000, Av mode, no compensation, cropped from 17 to 10MP, processed in CS4. Taken at 9:16 am today.

Comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on April 24, 2011 at 8:17 PM

beautiful colors. The left hand drop is a little distracting but I think if you take them out, you also have to do something with the rain streaks in the bg

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on April 24, 2011 at 9:07 PM

Beautiful colors and detail, Dennis. I'd probably try to remove the drops and the rain streaks.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on April 24, 2011 at 10:08 PM

The bird is sharp and the colors are very good. The drops don't bother me. Nice image.

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

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on April 25, 2011 at 2:45 AM

Dennis ..beautiful image of the bird, and the plumage is looking wonderful. The rain drops are adding to the beauty of this frame...well done

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Varina Patel on April 25, 2011 at 11:56 AM

Oh no! Don't remove the rain drops, Dennis! I love them! This beautiful bird looks like he has hunkered down to wait out the rain - and it looks like he'll be waiting for quite some time. The droplets give us a real feeling of the dreariness of the day - along with the greyish background and the streaks of falling rain. That beautiful, bright bird is a wonderful contrast to the heavy weather... and his expression is priceless. Don't change a thing! I love it!

Registered on August 22, 2008, 45 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by RL Potts on April 25, 2011 at 6:15 PM

I think the swallow would look sad or unhealthy without the visual cues. Another vote to keep them. I also love the shot.

Registered on November 24, 2003, 188 Posts, 985 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 25, 2011 at 9:29 PM

The soft light really brings out the colors nicely. The tiny drops, which show so nicely in the larger version, are a major plus. The big drop is a minor distraction, but I wouldn't remove it, I'd just burn it in to darken it to match the light gray in the background.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on April 25, 2011 at 11:07 PM

Beautiful colors and detail, Dennis. The drops are necessary, IMO.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on April 27, 2011 at 2:34 PM

Just right. Seems like a bird with attitude from its posture. I like how the raindrops are "suggested."

lucy

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on May 1, 2011 at 1:51 PM

Awesome picture! I think that the raindrops on the shephards crook really add to the image. I love this little guys colours!

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 3, 2011 at 8:12 PM

Dennis, congrats on a nice EP!
I'd tone down the blown drops, but keep them.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on May 3, 2011 at 10:19 PM

Beautiful detail and colors. Congrats on the WP!

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 4, 2011 at 12:36 AM

Congratulations on a well-=deserved EP, Dennis!

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 4, 2011 at 1:37 PM

Dennis,
the beautiful bird, the background and the drizzly atmosphere are super. Congrats on the EP.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 13, 2011 at 12:40 AM

Congrats Dennis

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