Verdin

Gallery: AvianPosted December 8, 2011233 views21 comments

Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)

Place: Water Ranch, Gilbert, AZ
Date: December 4, 2011 9:09 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 400, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/1000th @ f/8, -1/3rd ev compensation
Not baited, taped or set-up
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, 81% of frame

A common but difficult subject - they are small and hyperactive. I walked up on this bird intent on feeding on the Desert Broom.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Larger version provided as usual.

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on December 8, 2011 at 6:32 PM

Really nice detail on both the bird and the perch as well as nice OOF background. I like the little sideways look he is giving as well.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on December 8, 2011 at 6:43 PM

Richard, really good job catching this! These birds rarely sit still for long. Good sharpness on the Verdin & nice complimentary background!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 8, 2011 at 6:45 PM

I like this image very much. Great feather detail. Perch is a nice addition to the image that creates a sense of environment. Background works well for me except for the OOF section on the left. Very nice.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 8, 2011 at 7:11 PM

Sweet shot Rich. Love the light, detail, and sharpness with good DOF. A great BG too.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 8, 2011 at 8:37 PM

You really captured the bird's attitude with this! Very sweet shot! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 8, 2011 at 9:34 PM

this is a beauty, Rich. I love everything here--beautiful light and setting, great detail, nice comp. And such a great close-up view of such a tiny and active species.

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

Comment posted by Harry Harris on December 8, 2011 at 11:42 PM

Richard, I don't know what to say except that this image is fantastic. This morning some birders were looking for a Verdin which was reported where I was shooting. When I got home, I did a little research to know what to look for. Your image is the best I have seen by far.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 9, 2011 at 7:38 AM

Fined details and a great harmony of colors - Very pleasing to the eye Rich.
Beautiful work.

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

Comment posted by Scott Frye on December 9, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Very nice colors with a great prech

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

Comment posted by Ron Huff on December 9, 2011 at 4:08 PM

A really nice shot. Great detail in the Verdin, nice light and great BG. Excellent!

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by David E Lester on December 9, 2011 at 4:43 PM

Everything said..thanks for sharing..!!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on December 9, 2011 at 6:05 PM

Beautifully done, Richard. I'd love to have this one.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 9, 2011 at 8:21 PM

Excellent Rich, just a wonderful composition that highlight this species very well.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 9, 2011 at 8:47 PM

Oh my, can I have a squeeze or just a wee little hug?? So sweet.Love the great fluffy body nice clean bg and a perfect perch.

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

Comment posted by Peter Conway on December 10, 2011 at 10:01 AM

Beautiful work Richard. I really like the comp, the inclusion of the Desert Broom, and the color of the BG. I think it would be even stronger without the OOF plant in the upper left, but I it looks good as is too.

Peter

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 10, 2011 at 7:18 PM

What a beautiful portrait.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 11, 2011 at 12:31 PM

Nice image of such a diminutive subject, Rich.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 12, 2011 at 3:31 PM

Excellent verdin shot, wonderful overall composition, I find these birds very hard to get a good photograph of one, you really have to look at the larger version to appreciate this, well done.

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

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on December 16, 2011 at 5:54 AM

Wow! That is a great shot of a Verdin! I have been trying to get shots of those recently and they ARE really difficult. That is amazing it let you walk up to it like that!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on December 18, 2011 at 2:58 PM

This image has a very pleasing feel to it.

Love the BG, perch and details

Oh and subject

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on February 7, 2012 at 12:57 AM

This is inspiring to me - the sharp clarity of the bird, the creamy oof bg, the complementary perch, the gentle colors - it's just an all around great picture!

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments