Phoebe Closeup

Gallery: AvianPosted September 30, 2011150 views17 comments

This represents the closest shot of the Eastern Phoebe flycatcher to date for me.
Original height, cropped at both ends to the 4:5.
F/9, 1/640th, ISO 500, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + Kenko 2x, No flash around 10:00am.

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on September 30, 2011 at 7:57 PM

This is beautiful Howard. It's a beautiful complimentary background, and the pose is great. Love the detail, including in that eye.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on September 30, 2011 at 7:58 PM

Very, very nice Howard. Great head turn, nice background and perch.
May

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 30, 2011 at 8:35 PM

Really nice Howard. All the good things one hopes for when you get very close to a small bird have happened here. I especially like the light and the head turn. Personally, I'd give the bird a bit more room on the right but that's just my preference, nothing more.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Jaymes Dempsey on September 30, 2011 at 8:49 PM

I love the tones...and the catchlight in the eye is wonderful...great capture!

Registered on June 28, 2010, 47 Posts, 590 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 30, 2011 at 9:46 PM

Sweet, Howard. Excellent detail, pose and head turn, as well as a very nice bg. I might be tempted to add a bit of canvas on the top, though I like the proportions.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 30, 2011 at 10:15 PM

The pose and head turn couldn't be any better Howard. You've captured a wonderful image of the Phoebe!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on October 1, 2011 at 1:15 AM

She is a beauty, Howard. Perfection!

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 1, 2011 at 2:23 AM

A little too tight in the frame for me, however, the exquisite detail and marvelous eye-contact are everything I could hope for, Exceptional capture Howard, thanks for sharing!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on October 1, 2011 at 9:08 AM

WoW, Howard.... this is wonderful and so well captured. I love everything about this especially your DOF choice and what a great complimentary BG. EXCELLENT WORK!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 1, 2011 at 9:12 AM

Very nice image of this Phoebe close-up Howard. Terrific detail-especially in the larger version, and the light is excellent.

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

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 1, 2011 at 11:37 AM

Wow! Really impressive, Howard. This guy looks like he posed just for you. Great pose, detail and bg. Beautiful image.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 1, 2011 at 3:41 PM

A great shot overall Howard. Super detail and a great head turn and catchlight. The comp is a bit tight for my taste, but if you were going for detail, you succeeded.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 1, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Way to go Howard, excellent shot, everything works, feather detail, perch, head turn and background, the larger image was a pleasure to view, well done.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 1, 2011 at 7:52 PM

Thanks everyone for the great feedback, as always I sincerely appreciate each and every comment.
NPN has helped me grow as a photographer, there's no doubt.

I titled this a "Closeup" because it is what it is, a "Closeup".
I was using the 2x as you know, and this image was not cropped with regards to its original height dimensions..

The purpose of any "Closeup" is to simply show the birds details as you would not normally see it.
By definition then, a true "Closeup" does not meet the usual standards for composition, and that's a given.

So I appreciate that many of you would prefer a bit more room.
But I would also expect one to simply view it as I intended, a "Closeup".

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 2, 2011 at 9:35 AM

Excellent closeup as presented, but I do agree with others that it's a bit tight for viewing pleasure. Perfect head turn and that little touch of green leaf really adds a lot. Nicely done. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 2, 2011 at 9:56 AM

Oh, so sweet and beautiful, Howard. Wonderful detail.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 2, 2011 at 11:46 AM

Very nice. Wonderful detail. Good work getting close. I'd prefer a bit more room but it looks good this way too.

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