Scarlet Tanager

Gallery: AvianPosted May 20, 2011189 views14 comments

This guy definitely wasn't what I was after at the time. I was staked out in my blind trying to take photos of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker "tree", one with the wells where the Sapsuckers, and other birds, wouild come to feed. Light was really bad, but when this guy popped up 15 feet away, I had to give it a shot. I only got one quick frame.

Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, 1/60, f6.3, ISO 400, 430EX @ -2. Almost full-frame, cloned out a double-catchlight in the eye (from flash), also cloned out a stick in the lower-right (don't do that much, but think I did OK for my limited PS skills). I was pleasantly surprised that it turned out at 1/60, although ideally I'd have more DOF (the foot on the perch).

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on May 20, 2011 at 8:50 PM

I like the detail that you obtained in the reds and blacks, Terry. Also, your cloning job looks fine to me. The bird really stands out well from the bg and overcomes the dof effect that you mention.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on May 20, 2011 at 8:55 PM

Beautiful bird and a nice pose. I'd be happy with this one if it was the only shot I got before he took off.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 20, 2011 at 9:41 PM

Nice bonus, Terry. I just saw my first one of these today (visiting family in Michigan). Excellent job on the exposure and the detail is great, especially for 1/60th.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 20, 2011 at 10:57 PM

The good thing here Terry is that you didn't have to snap too many shots-you nailed it on the first try! And at 1/60th the image is quite sharp. I'd love to have this image on my hard drive, nice work!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on May 21, 2011 at 2:10 AM

Good detail and really nice exposure on the reds and blacks.

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on May 21, 2011 at 8:46 AM

Great looking bird. Exposure looks very good. Often times, the reds on these guys either get cooked or over saturated, but this one looks very nice.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on May 21, 2011 at 10:02 AM

A fine example of how fill-flash has helped with the colours here - I think this is a fantastic capture!

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

Comment posted by May Haga on May 21, 2011 at 10:04 AM

Very nice Terry. They are such brilliant birds and you have captured him beautifully.
May

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 21, 2011 at 12:29 PM

Great colors and your flash setting looks just right. Nice grab shot for sure

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 21, 2011 at 1:59 PM

Terrific image. The reds are perfect, and the blacks are as well. You did well with such a limited opportunity.

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

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on May 21, 2011 at 5:12 PM

Beauty, Terry. Terrific colors, detail and wonderful, alert pose. Was this in Newton Hills?

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on May 21, 2011 at 8:53 PM

Great look at this beautiful tanager, Terry. The image is very sharp for 1/60s. Congrats on a fine image.

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

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on May 21, 2011 at 10:03 PM

Very nice, especially for a spontaneous grab. I've been seeing many of these in our area, but never low enough to make a decent shot. Great exposure, pose and perch.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Lusk on May 22, 2011 at 8:43 AM

What a beauty! I've never seen one of these.

Excellent job!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments