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Vermilion Flycatcher from #2 TNP outing
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Vermilion Flycatcher from #2 TNP outing

by Bruce Sherman

Gallery: AvianPosted December 7, 20035,440 views20 comments
The TNP group had outing #2 at Choke Canyon State Park this weekend. Several of us were very fortunate to get a chance to shoot this cute little guy. It was the ideal situation - great light, an extremely cooperative bird, and a terrific BG. I bet you will see many more shots of this bird in the next few days.

EOS 1D with 600 and 2X TC, manual metering -1/3(ISO 250, f14, 1/500), fill flash with BB at - 2 1/3.

Thanks for looking. All comments appreciated.

Comments

20 comments
Comment posted by Garth McElroy on December 7, 2003 at 4:33 PM
:eek: Awesome Bruce! Not much else to say!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 248 Posts, 4406 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zipp on December 7, 2003 at 5:57 PM
Bruce, What an awsome shot! I've never found one in such nice breeding plumage as this guy but sure would love to. I really like the slight side lighting as it really gives this image depth. Nice work.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 86 Posts, 940 Comments
Comment posted by Paula Graham on December 7, 2003 at 6:05 PM
Gee Whizz....that is some shot. I just love it. Perfect in every respect. What a stunning subject too. Well done
:toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 34 Posts, 902 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Royse on December 7, 2003 at 6:07 PM
:toast:

Perfect portrait of a stunning specimen.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 218 Posts, 2427 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Neely on December 7, 2003 at 7:15 PM
I'm jealous again. All I had to do was blow off all the must do's this weekend and join you. :biggrin:

Great shot, Bruce. I love it.

jn
Registered on November 1, 2003, 22 Posts, 180 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Bates on December 7, 2003 at 7:51 PM
Bruce..this one one VERY cooperative fellow for sure!! YOU NAILED HIM!!! Perfect pose, gorgeous colors and superb composition!!! TNP II was one awesome trip for all of us! (even despite the cold nights..LOL). I guess I should post the Caracara...LOL!

Well done!!! :toast:

Michael
Registered on November 1, 2003, 149 Posts, 2381 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Wilson on December 7, 2003 at 7:55 PM
Well this is simply marvelous!!! The background is completely perfect, the sharpness is unbelievable, the speciman is perfect.
:toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2211 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Nicholas on December 7, 2003 at 8:59 PM
One of the better VF images I have seen. Great job, Bruce. If there's another outing after the first of the year, I can count myself in.
Registered on November 11, 2003, 38 Posts, 155 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Davidson on December 7, 2003 at 9:06 PM
What can be said Bruce! :jump: :jump: :jump: Killer! You can bet I'd be jumping around like these little :jump: if I had one this nice!
Chris Davidson
Registered on November 1, 2003, 38 Posts, 815 Comments
Comment posted by Bob Steele on December 7, 2003 at 9:26 PM
Oh man... I am in awe, and extremely jealous of this image. KILLER!!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments
Comment posted by Pete Parker on December 7, 2003 at 9:33 PM
Beautiful Bruce. We had such a great time, this just puts icing on the cake. Verrrrry well done!
Pete
Registered on November 9, 2003, 29 Posts, 184 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Ross on December 7, 2003 at 9:54 PM
Great looking bird, the low fill ratio has produced a great portrait with a certain depth to it. Perfect complimentary background as well. Being able to shoot at ISO 200+ all the time must be a huge advantage, (1/500 @ f14) and has allowed a great portrait here. Could have used more fill for a different looking portrait also.

As an aside, can you tell if you were actually getting the -2 1/3 stops fill you were asking for? 'Cause with your settings at f14, 1200 mm FL, and at 1/500 you are on the high speed flash sync, all of which work to rob/require lots of flash power even at ISO 250.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Leslie on December 7, 2003 at 10:05 PM
A perfect image, Bruce. The contrast between that steely background and the red is stunningly beautiful. Congrats!
Scott
Registered on November 1, 2003, 37 Posts, 117 Comments
Comment posted by Bruce Sherman on December 7, 2003 at 10:19 PM
Chris Ross said:
As an aside, can you tell if you were actually getting the -2 1/3 stops fill you were asking for? 'Cause with your settings at f14, 1200 mm FL, and at 1/500 you are on the high speed flash sync, all of which work to rob/require lots of flash power even at ISO 250.
*********************************************************************
Chris,
Thanks for the kind words.

With the 1D body, flash at 1/500 is not high speed synch. The 1D requires high speed synch at shutter speeds faster than 1/500.
The original had the catchlight you see here, plus two very small ones (which I cloned out). The bird was perched a few feet above the surface of the water, so I presume one of the small catchlights was from the sun reflecting off the water. I think the second small catchlight was from the flash.
Registered on November 9, 2003, 165 Posts, 1116 Comments
Comment posted by John Fortner on December 8, 2003 at 9:10 AM
Sweet shot Bruce, that is one good looking bird. :wavey:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 15 Posts, 146 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Muskie on January 25, 2004 at 7:56 AM
Stunning color and beautiful, simple composition. Gorgeous!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 26 Posts, 218 Comments
Comment posted by George Forrest on February 22, 2004 at 7:33 PM
2-22-04Better late than never. Glad I discovered this one. Just absolutely wonderful, congrats Bruce.

PS Beautiful.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 26 Posts, 443 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Strickland on January 16, 2005 at 2:49 PM
Great capture of a beautiful bird. Nothing else to say. just great
Registered on January 16, 2005, 96 Posts, 72 Comments
Comment posted by David Parker on March 2, 2007 at 8:50 PM
Registered on March 1, 2007, 0 Posts, 2 Comments
Comment posted by David Parker on March 2, 2007 at 9:31 PM
Brilliant just brilliant! Your protege, David :wavey:
Registered on March 1, 2007, 0 Posts, 2 Comments