This is my perch!

Gallery: AvianPosted October 15, 2012362 views20 comments

Taken in the Cypress Hills, Alberta. There was a huge group of Yellow-rumped Warblers along with Mountain Bluebirds feeding on some sort of fly that seemed to be swarming low along the roadside. I noticed that periodically they would take a break from feeding and land in a nearby pine tree. Luckily there was an approach next to the tree and I managed to position my truck to shoot from the window. These two landed right away and I didn't even have time to check my settings. I wish I would have been stopped down a bit as the rear bird is a bit soft. Nevertheless I still like the shot. I cloned out a few distracting branches in the left corner. After playing around with the composition I decided to go with the square crop as it seemed to work best with the diagonal branch. All C&C appreciated.

Camera Model Canon EOS 40D
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/640
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Spot Metering
ISO Speed 800
Lens EF400mm f/5.6L USM

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on October 15, 2012 at 11:53 PM

Wow, what an amazing action shot! You sure timed it right on this one! I love the background, it's just pure cream...such a beautiful image, Mark. Well done, very well done!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 15, 2012 at 11:54 PM

You've critiqued it already. I really like the image and the ongoing interaction. Has a "Christmas Card" feel to it.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on October 16, 2012 at 12:14 AM

When I first saw this, I was thinking Audubon painting due to the positioning of the birds and their interaction. Needless to say you've got a winner here, Mark. Yeah, the DOF could be better, but then you might not have gotten the shot. Simple comp with a nice palette of colors and great exposure.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on October 16, 2012 at 11:04 AM

Pure eye candy -- the colors are great -- very nice capture

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 16, 2012 at 11:27 AM

Beautiful image Mark,
I like the softness of the rear bird in this situation, it seems to add a feel of dominance to the other bird as if to be winning the argument.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 16, 2012 at 11:58 AM

Mark, an eyecatching shot, for sure. I love the poses of both birds and the setting and colors are nice. I agree with you that more sharpness on the rear bird would have made the image even stronger.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Joana Roncero on October 16, 2012 at 1:02 PM

What a gorgeous picture!. When I saw the thumbnail, I thought that it was a painting. Very, very nice!! Congratulations….

Registered on August 27, 2012, 17 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on October 16, 2012 at 3:44 PM

Love the setting and the BG... Very cool image, great for wall hanger.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Yun Gao on October 16, 2012 at 9:00 PM

Great interaction, pure background, very lovely, very nice.

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on October 16, 2012 at 9:25 PM

Beautiful. Like an Audubon painting. Love the poses, the branch perch, and the beautiful bg.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on October 16, 2012 at 11:10 PM

Great background. Great capture of the interaction between the birds. The open mouths particularly really add a sense of action and interaction in this shot.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Cristina Strudthof on October 17, 2012 at 12:11 AM

Wow this is a great shot. The rear bird's softness doesn't detract from the image for me and yes the square crop suits this comp best.

Registered on January 14, 2011, 53 Posts, 363 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Kane on October 17, 2012 at 2:52 PM

Wonderful Mark. As others have commented, this imnage really has the feel of an Audubon painting. Love the interaction, nice clean background, and think you made the right choice to go square here.

Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 17, 2012 at 4:23 PM

A very dynamic and eye catching image Mark. Just a bit more DOF and yes this would have been even better. However, given your already slowish SS for this type of action it does not look light you had the light to do any more than you did. Only solution would have been flash it seems.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 17, 2012 at 5:10 PM

Awesome behavior inter-action shown here Mark. I don't think the oof bird is that big of a deal. I'm not usually a fan of square crops, but it seems to work well here.

Excellent Capture

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on October 17, 2012 at 7:27 PM

This is so reminiscent of an Audubon painting, as has already been said. Love the flow of this, the background, the perch, and the tension produced by the birds posturing.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on October 17, 2012 at 11:12 PM

I like the interaction here Mark. The bg is very pleasing and perfect for these two.

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on October 18, 2012 at 1:19 AM

This is a greeting card. Nice shot and fun interaction of the birds.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 19, 2012 at 12:52 PM

Wonderful interaction beautifully captured.
May

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on October 20, 2012 at 8:47 AM

A true winner here Mark!
Excellent composition, action and colors both foreground and background.
My only suggestion might be to try boosting the contrast on the birds only to give a bit more visual separation between the birds and BG
Wonderful as posted!!!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments