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Spruce Grouse Male
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Spruce Grouse Male

by Jim DeWitt

Gallery: AvianPosted May 3, 2012175 views7 comments
Olympus E-5, 300mm x 2.0TC, car window
f5.7, 1/250, ISO1600

The problem I always have with Spruce Grouse is that they like the very dark forest floor in dense thickets of Black Spruce. This male came out far enough to let me get a few shots at ISO1600, the upper limit of my E-5. I've never been successful with fill-flash; it seems to blow the whites. And with flash, you only get one shot and the bird is gone.

Full frame. Lightened slightly. Selective sharpening to bird.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Verdon on May 3, 2012 at 5:43 PM
the sharpness isn't the best, I like the pose and the eye, wish to have that fella in my gallery :wavey:
Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 3, 2012 at 6:43 PM
The IQ suffers a tad- perhaps from a large crop- but a nice portrait of this Grouse and a clean open shot.
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 4, 2012 at 2:22 AM
Fairly soft, but a nice look at this elusive fellow - good pose, nice eye and habitat.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 4, 2012 at 6:56 AM
A nice look at this bird Jim. I agree the high ISO hurts this a bit, but I still like it.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 4, 2012 at 9:48 AM
Good pose Jim. I wouldn't have guessed you were shooting from above from a vehicle window, angle looks great. Bird could use a little more space on the right so less centered imho. I hope to start seeing these birds around here soon.
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by keith mitchell on May 4, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Jim it sounds like you had to work for this,maybe a tad soft but its still turned out a very nice image.

Keith.
Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments
Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 6, 2012 at 8:11 AM
Beautiful and interesting bird. Nice eye contact and pose. I might try loosening the crop a bit. Especially on the top and right. More room for the bird and might also help to improve the softness.
Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments