Bullfinch

Gallery: AvianPosted April 20, 2012140 views10 comments

Appreciate the response and feedback on the last image, thank you.

As a rule I rarely do Avian, not sure why, but when the occasion arises well, it's good fun and can still be just as testing at times too. Having put up more bird boxes along one my stretches in between the monsoons, I noticed that there were a pair of Bullfinches floating around, so with the camera close at hand I set too to getting some images and this is one of them. Sadly with adding feeders and bird boxes this is now a great mobile kitchen for either the Sparrow hawk or Goshawk that seems to be patrolling this location. As I took this shot he/she grabbed a snack!

Steve
Subject: Bullfinch on hawthorn branch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Location: UK
Camera: Canon MKIIV
Lens: 500f/4 + 1.4 x- Bean bag
Exposure: 1/160s at f/8 ISO400 +0.67 stop compensation
Crop: Slight tighter for presentation [i](original capture horizontal)

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 20, 2012 at 10:47 AM

Beautiful detail and a very nice composition, Steve. If you have it, I might have left just a bit more room on the right.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on April 20, 2012 at 10:54 AM

Thanks Dennis, I do, but the green hedgerow in the BKG drifts off, leaving a light grey through the rest of this bush, so I thought it best to crop. I could of course create a channel mask and then add a layer with the BKG colour, but it seems a bit of a game and if I left it as is, I am sure those comment would arise too.

cheers
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 20, 2012 at 2:12 PM

Exceptional detail here, nice pose and interesting habitat. A little centered for my taste, but an excellent image.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 20, 2012 at 4:38 PM

A wonderful image Stephen. Great detail and sharpness in the bird. Wonderful habitat too. Curious as to what you usually shoot that is more "testing" than Avian photography?

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on April 20, 2012 at 4:48 PM

Thanks guys.

Hi Ron, I am more the bigger wildlife so to speak, although this particular location keeps drawing me back, as it caters for both sides of the fence, birds to deer & more. Certainly posting on this part of the Forum really does the Avian side of photography justice with some cracking imagery.

cheers
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 22, 2012 at 4:14 AM

Lovely setting Steve and great detail in the larger image

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 22, 2012 at 3:31 PM

Excellent, Steve. Lovely work on the bird and a sweet color palette. We see these rarely in Alaska. There can be more than one definition of "bird feeder," as your sparrow hawk is showing.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on April 22, 2012 at 3:56 PM

Beautiful colors and detail. The centered comp doesn't bother me. Very pleasing image!

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 23, 2012 at 8:45 PM

Beautiful Steve with very pleasing colors and bg. The bird is a little centered so maybe more off the left and bottom?

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

Comment posted by May Haga on April 23, 2012 at 9:09 PM

Beautiful image Steve. Love the setting.
May

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