Redstart

Gallery: AvianPosted May 12, 2012259 views15 comments

Hi all, I'm just back from my song bird and warbler migration trip. It was an amazing time with many great birds. Here's a shot of one of my favorite warblers from the trip, the American Redstart. These guys are super tiny and great fun to photograph. Be sure to check the blog for more coming soon.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 12, 2012 at 10:22 AM

Wow, nice bird Geoff - different from the Redstarts we have over here. Like it ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by David Graham on May 12, 2012 at 10:33 AM

Wowzer! Super image! Took me back to my first-ever sight of a redstart in 1948 at the age of eight. Such a startlingly arresting display...I think I've seen it only twice since then. I'd crop a touch off the right side to increase the sense that intended target or targets of the display are just beyond the left edge of the image.

Dave Graham

Registered on December 14, 2010, 1 Posts, 5 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 12, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Very nice. Love this. Great light, pose, and BG. I do see many repeated patterns in the BG from clone work however, and I would do a bit more healing work on the BG if this were mine. Love this species. Congrats.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 12, 2012 at 11:50 AM

Wow! The bird is really nice and the pose is just wonderful. I'm not sure about the bg ...remnant of twig on lower right? Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on May 12, 2012 at 12:22 PM

Thanks all. Sharon the BG is 100% real, no photoshopping or cloning out.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on May 12, 2012 at 3:06 PM

Nice! Love the flared tail and the pleasing background. The twig perch seems to cradle the Redstart.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on May 12, 2012 at 6:35 PM

nice posture and BG. TFS.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on May 12, 2012 at 8:45 PM

Geoff,

I think it is a great pose and I like the curve of the branch the Redstart is on. I like the eye contact and the fanned tail.

I see repeated patterns in the background, there are at least three dark green eliptical shapes with lighter green centers in the upper left quadrant, there are four pale greenish/gray pyramid shapes in that same area and towards the upper center of the image I see two identical pale green areas. I would work at softening those repeated clone marks. The image would be stronger without them.

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 12, 2012 at 9:55 PM

Geoff, nice little turkey you found here. I love the pose.

Though the branch on the left edge is a slight distraction, I agree with David about cropping off the right in order to get the bird out of the center of the image. Could even see a bit off the top too to place it in the upper right third (or conversely cropping off the bottom to place it in the lower right third).

Sounds like folks still think there was cloning to the background, but since you're saying there wasn't any, I'm curious as to what caused the repeated patterns in the upper left. Definitely some interesting bokeh at the very least!

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 13, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Incredible wing position. Beautifully capture.
May

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 13, 2012 at 5:39 PM

Great display you captured of this little beauty Geoff. Nice details. Sweet Photo!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on May 14, 2012 at 7:09 AM

Great image of a beautiful bird. I like the pose which makes me feel like it is about to jump. I like it.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on May 14, 2012 at 9:25 PM

Love the fanned tail, excellent detail in the dark feathers. Outstanding work.

Ray

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 14, 2012 at 10:10 PM

Geoff - Wonderful pose , nice detail, and great eye contact. I'd personally get rid of the far left branch - it doesn't add anything and draws my eye a bit.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 16, 2012 at 9:34 AM

Super shot Geoff, love the fanned tail

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments