Orchard Oriole (female)

Gallery: AvianPosted August 28, 2011204 views19 comments

I made this Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine's winning image today around 8:30am, taking advantage of the early morning light. It's perched between the branches of a small myrtle tree.
F/8, 1/400th, ISO 500, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x ext around 8:30am & clear. No flash.
http://www.tpwmagazine.com/photography/

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on August 28, 2011 at 8:27 PM

Great artistic/painterly feel to this shot. Love all aspects of this. I believe this is an orchard oriole for sure. Probably an adult female.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on August 28, 2011 at 8:36 PM

Very nice, Howard. Beautiful light. I love the averted gaze of the bird with fantastic light in the eye. Darkish background and spread feet is all a bonus.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on August 28, 2011 at 8:43 PM

Beautiful image Howard. Love the pose. Very pleasing colors and composition.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 28, 2011 at 9:16 PM

Hi Howard, Looks like a female Orchard to me.

I like the soft sidelight here. The head turn is perfect for the light to bring out those pretty yellows. Nice work!

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on August 28, 2011 at 10:15 PM

Lovely bird in a lovely setting

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 28, 2011 at 11:10 PM

Sublime pose and background. Nicely composed too. One of my favorite photos of yours to date.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 28, 2011 at 11:31 PM

One of your best, in my opinion, Howard. Gorgeous light, a very neat pose and the branches make for a great composition. To top it off the bg colors and lighting work extremely well with the bird. Beautiful image.

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on August 28, 2011 at 11:51 PM

Beautiful image, Howard. I like all the elements in this - the curious head-turn, the branch, light and the wonderfully complementary background. Your comp goes very well with the pose and perch.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 29, 2011 at 3:37 AM

Howard, the yellow in this are excellent! I also like the color of the BG and think it really compliments the bird, but the pops and comp really make this special for me. Very nicely done!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on August 29, 2011 at 8:54 AM

The light quality on this image is splendid. It almost feels like portrait lighting. I really like the pose. The perch is just perfect for this situation. I like the fact that you can see the darker leaves at the top of the frame. Excellent work.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on August 29, 2011 at 3:04 PM

WOW Howard! This is really special. Has a magazine cover look to it. Perfect composition, terrific background all dark and moody, and the light is superb! Fantastic is all regards Howard.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 29, 2011 at 7:37 PM

Looks like you hit this one out of the ball park, Howard. In addition to the beautiful colors and comp that everyone has already pointed out what I find particularly interesting is that the bird is looking away from us and yet the shot retains very strong appeal. Neat. Very fine work.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on August 29, 2011 at 8:35 PM

A lovely capture and like your composition a great deal.

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on August 29, 2011 at 9:47 PM

The light is awesome, Howard. I really like the way you composed this allowing room for the Oriole to look up. Really nice image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on August 30, 2011 at 1:31 AM

Howard, Somehow I missed this very appealing image.
This looks fantastic! Very nice lighting, background, and pose.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on August 30, 2011 at 2:17 PM

Hello Howard.
Don't think i can add to what as already been said ,it really is a super little bird and a beautiful image.

Keith.

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

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on August 31, 2011 at 10:01 AM

Howard, superb light, color,composition. A Nature image with great artistic merit.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on September 2, 2011 at 10:36 AM

Perfect capture. I really like the composition.
May

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on September 8, 2011 at 2:16 PM

Great shot- Wonderful pose, great colours and a perfect BG for the subject- My congrats, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments