Mourning Dove

Gallery: AvianPosted August 17, 2012107 views12 comments

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Place: Phoenix, AZ
Date: August 16, 2012, 2:20 pm
Equipment: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8, TC20E(2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 1600, Aperture priority spot metered, 1/200th @ f8
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 86% of full frame

Still way too hot here in central AZ to be out hiking about with camera gear (we’ve reached 115 three times so far this summer). So this is a shot of a Mourning Dove in our back yard, taken through the patio door glass (recently cleaned). We feed the doves late each afternoon so there are always a few hanging around waiting for the seed to come out.

No noise reduction applied, but I did use the healing brush to tone down a bright stone in the background.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Larger image provided for judging image quality.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 17, 2012 at 5:44 PM

And here I thought you had actually ventured outside..

Great pose here, and pretty sharp - especially through glass. You're clearly a better cleaner than I am..
I really like the soft, subtle colours , and natural habitat.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 17, 2012 at 6:27 PM

I am impressed you managed ISO 1600 with no NR. A fine shot, up to your usual standards.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 17, 2012 at 10:08 PM

Your windows are a lot cleaner than mine. Nice detail and head turn and a very good job adjusting the bg rock.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on August 18, 2012 at 12:25 AM

I really like the subtle earth toned colors of mourning doves, great body angle for this portrait. Excellent details, I would have never guessed this was photographed through a window. Very Nice Work Richard!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 18, 2012 at 3:59 AM

Nice of the shoulder pose.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on August 18, 2012 at 12:10 PM

You do windows?

Nice one, Rich. Seems a little soft in spots but sharp where it counts, especially considering the window glass.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on August 18, 2012 at 12:45 PM

Nice low angle image.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 18, 2012 at 11:02 PM

Looks excellent for iso 1600 with that camera, a touch of noise but not enough to be objectionable. Nice head turn

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 18, 2012 at 11:48 PM

the dove looks great, especially for shooting through a window. nice pose too. the upper left shows some odd vertical banding in the larger version. hope you guys get some relief some time soon....

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 19, 2012 at 12:58 AM

the upper left shows some odd vertical banding in the larger version

Yes. I've seen this before when I shot through the glass and have assumed it is an artifact of the optical interference from the plain flat glass. The banding is always vertical and in an area that is out of focus.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 19, 2012 at 3:03 AM

I like the overall composition and the low angle (always nice to shoot in AC this time of year). Pretty good image for iso 1600 on the D300 with no noise reduction applied.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 20, 2012 at 8:21 AM

Really nice setting and eye contact Richard

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