Western Meadowlark

Gallery: AvianPosted January 3, 2013108 views8 comments

I spent the morning at Ridgefield NWR yesterday morning and came away with a few decent images on one of our rare sunny Pacific Northwest winter days. This was one of a flock of five that landed on a dike a bit ahead of me. When I got even with them (it's a driving only location) the others flew but this one stayed and posed for quite a few shots. I liked the angle on this one that shows off the winter plumage so nicely.

1DIV, 500mm ISL + 1.4TC, Black Widow on beanbag (trying out the BLUBB, and it worked very well). f8, 1/2000, iso 640, Av mode with no compensation, cropped to 7.6 MP. Normal processing in CS5.

Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 3, 2013 at 2:48 PM

Really like the color contrast between the bird and the grass. Good catch.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on January 3, 2013 at 4:27 PM

Very nice colors and details. I would try a vertical version. I'd like to see less space to the left of the bird.

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on January 3, 2013 at 7:41 PM

Love the low POV. I'm divided about the crop. Perhaps less on the left and leave more canvas on the right where he's looking. Great detail in the eye and beak.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Tjie Poo on January 3, 2013 at 10:18 PM

Nice capture. I'd also prefer less room on the left and more room on the right side. Vertical cropping might work as well.
Thanks for sharing.

Registered on December 4, 2012, 51 Posts, 511 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 3, 2013 at 10:21 PM

Love the setting and comp Patrick

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 3, 2013 at 11:32 PM

Very cool setting, especially with the bits of frost and dew drops. I think the composition is fine as is. The bird's body is facing towards the left, whether the bill/head is or not. I also like the "rise" of the little grassy area as you move to the left of the bird...don't think that would be there if you framed it the other way, with the bird in the left of the frame.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on January 5, 2013 at 12:20 AM

awesome shots, can't wait for the time when they start their beautiful singing in the fields behind my house, well done!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on January 7, 2013 at 1:12 PM

Beautiful image, Dennis. I really like the habitat in this image - the touch of snow adds a lot to the image. Great angle on this colorful bird.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments