Battle in the snow & Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted July 13, 2011257 views18 comments

Well, I'm finally starting to catch up on some editing from my photo trips this spring. This one is from Malheur NWR in late April. The pair of Sage Grouse males decided to battle just after sunrise in a territory dispute. The extra-ordinary action only lasted a few seconds.

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Canon Mk IV, 600mm, 1/640 @ f8, ISO 1000, manual exposure using a spot meter reading off the side of the bird, slight crop from right side and bottom.

Ken Archer

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on July 13, 2011 at 10:07 PM

Wow Ken..that's a lot of frantic action!!!
The flying snow really adds to the excitement of the moment.
These birds are really a pleasure to watch during their spring mating ritual.

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on July 13, 2011 at 10:37 PM

great action shot, love the snow lighted by sun... what a beautiful birds, nicely done!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 13, 2011 at 10:39 PM

Exceptional action with interesting lighting. It's a shame that it's completely blown out between the birds and around the tail though. I think a dramatically underexposed image would have been more visually appealing in this matter.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 13, 2011 at 10:50 PM

cool action, Ken, and talk about difficult light. Luke might be on to something with his suggestion, since the birds seem to be still underexposed to me, but definitely a tough situation.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 13, 2011 at 11:29 PM

Very cool, Ken. The light would normally be considered very nasty, but it actually works very well with this image.

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

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on July 14, 2011 at 6:58 AM

Great action image Ken, lvoe teh flying snow and teh poses captured here!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on July 14, 2011 at 7:16 AM

Superb action in this one. I think it could take a little darkening for effect - maybe not.
Still a fine image of things as they really happen.
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on July 14, 2011 at 11:26 AM

I like the action and snow flying, I might experiment with darkening the birds just a bit, nice job for such a difficult shot and good timing to get this.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on July 14, 2011 at 8:54 PM

Ken that is so cool and a different image for me. I really like the fact that it is so lightandfull of snow so maybe just a little toning down on the bright areas. I think its asuper cool moment captured and worth perfecting.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 15, 2011 at 12:46 AM

Love the action Ken. The backlighting is pretty exciting too. Well done in all respects.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on July 15, 2011 at 2:53 AM

Ken that's superb just as it is excellent action.

keith.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 15, 2011 at 5:11 AM

Hello everyone,

I appreciate all your comments. When I first processed this image I went with a toned downed version with birds being fairly dark. But, I decided I wanted more detail in the birds and did some more adjusting with curves and liked the results better. But, you all have convinced me to take a second look.
Thank You for your help

Ken

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

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on July 15, 2011 at 5:25 PM

Ken, this is a great action shot. None of mine turned out like this in that I never got both heads visible at once. Was a fun trip. I'll be eager to see what you do with this after the suggestions.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

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

Great action Ken, I think I have a pretty similar frame

I like this as posted but when I process mine I will try it as a silhouette as well.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on July 17, 2011 at 7:17 PM

This is amazing action Ken. Beautifully captured.
May

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 17, 2011 at 8:05 PM

Hi all, here's a toned version as some of you suggested. I am hopeful it is a more pleasing version. Thank You!!!

Ken

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

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on July 18, 2011 at 12:01 PM

Great action shot! I love the snow flying everywhere. Looks like you had some nice light to work with.

I think that I prefer the repost to the first one.

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

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on November 1, 2011 at 7:19 AM

Prefer the first post. An exceptional action shot. Thanks for posting it.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments