Western Kingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted December 25, 2011194 views9 comments

Taken December 18, 2011 at San Joaquin Wildlife Preserve, Irvine, CA

D-300 f-9 1/2500 ISO-800 0 step 400mm
Aperture priority Manual white balance Nikon 200-400 lens
cropped CS5
Early morning on an overcast day

Skip Harris and I were shooting this bird together. While he moved quickly, his behavior was repetitive. He landed on this branch, stayed a few moments, flew away in a circle and landed again. After many tries with no image, part of a bird, missing wings, I finally got this shot.

Feedback welcome

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Cam Held on December 25, 2011 at 2:45 PM

Great action shot! Obviously this was not the most cooperative subject, but I do feel like the crop is a touch tight. Might just be me though... Other than that its superb! Hope you have a good holidays!
-Cam

Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on December 25, 2011 at 3:21 PM

An alternative crop and adjustment

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Haffley on December 26, 2011 at 10:30 AM

The crop is a matter of preference. I like both treatments.

Registered on August 10, 2008, 265 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on December 26, 2011 at 1:05 PM

Great wing display. Seeing some noise in the wing.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on December 26, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Nice spread wing shot. I think I might prefer a crop right in between the two you posted. I think the colors look a little too bright on the second post.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on December 26, 2011 at 8:45 PM

In between crop. Cam and Robert, what do you think?

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 27, 2011 at 12:15 AM

I like the last crop best. Interesting perspective, it helps that you got one eye visible.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on December 27, 2011 at 12:58 PM

I definitely like the third version the best.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 28, 2011 at 9:37 AM

I also like the last crop the best (by far for my taste). I do wish you had captured a different head angle.

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