Courting Tree Swallows

Gallery: AvianPosted May 12, 2011121 views9 comments

D300 200mm-400mm w/ 1.7 TC @ 550mm F6.7 1/1000

Harsh high noon lighting but I really liked catching the behavior. One small branch cloned out, cropped to square because I couldn't make a vertical or horizontal work

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 12, 2011 at 3:44 PM

Bob that's a beautiful image the colours are lovely and the birds are nice and sharp.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 12, 2011 at 3:46 PM

Square works just fine IMO. The harsh light was handled well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 12, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Love the overall comp Bob. Great getting the pair. Light and exposure handled very well IMO. Maybe just a bit more DOF for the females head given you had enough SS to handle closing down a bit. Overall really nice.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on May 12, 2011 at 6:36 PM

Great interaction between the birds Bob. Very well done.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 12, 2011 at 9:42 PM

Excellent job catching the iridescence, Bob. I like the composition a lot in this one.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on May 13, 2011 at 8:12 AM

Great image, Bob. The behavior is wonderful and works very well with your crop. The colors and isolation of the birds and perch against the sky are wonderful. The lighting has been well handled but I'm thinking a touch of fill light might have helped a bit. The females head seems slightly less sharp than the males and might beneifit from a bit more sharpening.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 13, 2011 at 10:23 AM

The expression on the male is priceless. I really like this a lot! Well seen and captured! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on May 14, 2011 at 10:52 AM

Very nice image Bob, the comp, detail and and colors are all very nice, especially for such harsh lighting.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on May 14, 2011 at 10:57 AM

Great image. The lighting works as it really highlights the bright blues in their feathers.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments