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Snow Buntings
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Snow Buntings

by Charles Gangas

Gallery: AvianPosted February 10, 2012168 views7 comments
I happened upon this drift of buntings on the Trapp Family Lodge farm in Vermont.
I used a pano crop here to exclude some cattle in the background and minimize some of the pie droppings on the field.

I like the POV I was able to get, just wish the birds were facing more toward the sun for catch light.

Cropped a dropping on the lower left FG, and blurred a few more in the upper left BG.

D3s
500mm f/4
TC-14II E
1/1600 @ f/6.3
ISO 400
-1/3EV
Matrix Metered
Shot from my SUV

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 10, 2012 at 2:26 PM
When I choose bird photos to hang on my wall, this is the kind of photo I'm looking for. I like the idea of a few birds going about their business, rather then a single bird staring into the lens. I don't mind at all that they aren't all making eye contact. I prefer it that way. Nice one, Chuck. :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 10, 2012 at 3:18 PM
Way to cool, what a wonderful perspective from the SUV and I really like the pano composition. Well seen and well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 10, 2012 at 8:04 PM
Very cool Chuck, a different perspective and take on this species. I agree with you on the angle of the sun being not optimal here with the lighting more on their backs than their faces. I could see cropping a bit more off the bottom and including some more room on the top here. Nice job getting all these guys sharp and the low angle. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 10, 2012 at 10:30 PM
neat shot, Chuck. angle looks surprisingly nice and low for shooting from a vehicle. I like the pano comp.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on February 11, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Well seen and executed. I like the shot a lot, but I find myself wishing you'd used a bit more DOF to minimize the blur in the foreground. If it were mine, I'd try Nate's ides of cropping a bit from the bottom and adding to the top.
Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Bunch on February 11, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Nice shot. I like the pano crop and the low angle. I wouldn't have guessed you shot this from a vehicle. It looks like you laid down in the snow for such a low angle.
Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 12, 2012 at 5:16 PM
Nice, Chuck. Great angle. Too bad about the angle to the sun.
:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments