White-crowned Sparrow

Gallery: AvianPosted January 7, 2012158 views19 comments

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Place: Water Ranch, Gilbert, AZ, USA
Date: January 5, 2012 8:07 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 800, Aperture priority spot metered, 1/100th @ f/8
Raw on Mac G4, PSCS3, 89% of frame – slight crop for balance
Not baited, not set up, no cloning, no noise reduction

Taken about 30 minutes after sunrise in shade. The Desert Broom attracts many species and makes a nice setting for a bird in habitat shot.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. If possible please view the large version before commenting.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on January 7, 2012 at 3:40 PM

Richard, I like the Desert Broom in this. Even though it is taken in winter, the colors & dappled sunlight make it 'feel' like a summer time shot. Nice feather detail & pose. I find myself wishing that the part of the plant wasn't over the bird's eye. Nice job!

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 7, 2012 at 4:01 PM

love the composition and setting for this, Rich. the desert broom is great, both the in focus fg, and the painted-looking bg. bird is very sharp, especially at a slow ss. looks like you might have lost a bit of the lower foot--I'd add a little back in at the bottom if you have it.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 7, 2012 at 4:24 PM

A really awesome shot IMO Rich. A very difficult exposure handled well. I love the BG and flowers. The seed over the eye adds for me. Adds some "action" to the image. Lover the overall feel of this one.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 7, 2012 at 5:30 PM

looks like you might have lost a bit of the lower foot--I'd add a little back in at the bottom if you have it.

Yes, I missed the toes at the bottom of the frame when I shot this - I was concentrating too much on getting the focus on the eye and didn't see how tight I was at the bottom. the slight crop was from the top and right to try and balance the closeness on the bottom.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 7, 2012 at 5:42 PM

Nice pose and wonderful, soft BG.
The wisp of silk over the eye is bothersone to me - no reason not to clone, imo.

Sandy.

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on January 7, 2012 at 6:06 PM

Beautiful background to show off this sparrow

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 7, 2012 at 6:31 PM

A lovely image. Really like the wispy setting and fine detail. Agree about the tightness on the foot - that's probably my most common mistake in framing birds in camera. I keep reminding myself to remember. And then I don't.

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

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on January 7, 2012 at 6:44 PM

You were right on him! I like the soft light coming through the plants!

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 7, 2012 at 8:08 PM

Love the sparrow, for me the background beautiful, makes the shot.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 7, 2012 at 8:12 PM

LP looks very nice, really the feel of this.
Beautiful work Rich.

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 7, 2012 at 9:19 PM

This reminds me of a similar shot of yours from some years back. You know the one. Nice, Rich. I would like to see a little more room around the bird all around. There is a lot that this habitat can add to the photo, and to my eye I'd like to see a little more. I really like the lighting and habitat.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on January 7, 2012 at 10:28 PM

This is so lovely!!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on January 7, 2012 at 10:41 PM

Very nice ! Can't decide which I like most in this, the bird or the perch/background. Combined they really make this special.

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

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on January 7, 2012 at 10:57 PM

This is a great mix of a great bird and a wonderful background. I too find that seed just a bit distracting.

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 8, 2012 at 11:53 AM

The beauty of this image, too, takes my breath away. I actually said, "Oh," when I opened it. Amazing light and colors, softness and sharpness. Amazing foreground and background.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 8, 2012 at 4:22 PM

Rich,

This reminds me of another image of yours that you had on the index page of your web site, that image is one of my favorites out of your portfolio. This image is as appealing to me as the other one is.

I love the fluff over the sparrow's eye, I don't think it detracts at all. I believe it enhances this image and sets it apart from the ordinary.

The broom in the habitat is fantastic and the soft yellow tones compliment the sparrow very well.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 8, 2012 at 10:44 PM

Wondeful setting and color scheme to this, when I first glanced at this and then read your comments I would of never know this was taken in the shade. Good detail on the bird in the larger image. I also like the abstract background and the transition you see going from left to right with the desert broom getting in sharp focus. Nice job in getting this shot, Rich, well done.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on January 8, 2012 at 11:28 PM

What a beautiful picture, love the surroundings and of everything about the primary subject! Wishing you a great year ahead Richard :^)

P.S. Please forgive me for not responding to some of your thoughtful and helpful comments on my work previously, time constraints are the only reasons for not having done so. Thank you for sharing your time with me, it is very much appreciated!

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 9, 2012 at 6:11 PM

Beautiful setting for a lovely composition. I find myself wanting to brush away the fluff over the bird's eye. That being said I still think it is an excellent image.
May

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