Waxwing

Gallery: AvianPosted January 7, 2013177 views16 comments

I haven't posted on here for a while, but am hoping to do so a bit more regularly now.

This winter we've had a lot of Waxwings in the UK, and I was desparate to get out and photograph some. As soon as I saw that some had been seen in North London, no more than than half an hour from my home, I set out there. This was one of my favourites from the morning.

Techs:
Nikon D300s
Nikon 600mm f4 AFS-II
Tripod
F4
1/640s
ISO 500

Thanks for looking, and C&C welcome.

Oscar

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on January 7, 2013 at 6:54 PM

Beautiful image, Oscar! Love the composition, the pose, and what gorgeous lighting! The berry in the Waxwing's mouth makes it all the more special.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 7, 2013 at 7:44 PM

Excellent detail in the crest and eye, Oscar and I like the pose and berry in the beak. I think I'd try a bit more dof, if you can get away with a smaller aperture. Great bg.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 7, 2013 at 7:59 PM

A nice image as posted. Interesting complimentary background color.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 7, 2013 at 9:07 PM

nice colors and comp, Oscar. not a lot of detail in the bird's breast, but my understanding is that's tough with this species. a good looking photo.

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

Comment posted by Tjie Poo on January 7, 2013 at 9:37 PM

Very nice detail, beautiful colors and gorgeous background. Great job Oscar !

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 7, 2013 at 9:57 PM

I like like the earth tones and the berries add interest.

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

Comment posted by David E Lester on January 7, 2013 at 11:06 PM

Super just super!!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on January 7, 2013 at 11:38 PM

he was working pretty hard, but still he has only half of the bunch, excellent pose and eye contact

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 8, 2013 at 1:21 AM

Beautiful Oscar. Love the background, your framing of the bird and the bunch of berrires

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on January 8, 2013 at 2:09 AM

Oscar - this is an exquisite image of one of my favourite species! I'm highly jealous...after Jenaya and I found waxwings a few times in 2011 we pretty much struck out this winter. You sure put it all together on this one! Fantastic light and gorgeous complementary background, great timing and excellent comp. I don't know for sure because I don't know the details of all you were working with here, but I think stopping down a little may have helped take this even one level higher, but the bokeh is so attractive here you wouldn't want to compromise that. Definitely an image to be proud of...and congrats on that new glass too!

(note the green colour to this emoticon)

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on January 8, 2013 at 5:46 AM

This is amazing. Very nice composition

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

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on January 8, 2013 at 11:15 AM

Beautiful bird, excellent natural composition, nice BG with bokeh. TFS.

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

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on January 8, 2013 at 6:02 PM

Beautiful image and lighting, especially against that BG.

Don Westbrook
Newark, MD

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on January 8, 2013 at 10:30 PM

Wonderful colors on a very photogenic species, Oscar. The berry in its beak makes it special. Congrats on getting this image.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 9, 2013 at 12:54 AM

Good work catching the berry before it disappeared down his gullet. Nice dof and a pleasing background. This would be a tricky one to compose for. As is, the composition might be a bit heavy on the right with not much to balance it on the left, but realistically I would probably have composed it as you did as I would want to show the entire cluster of remaining berries. Congratulation on capturing your target species!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 10, 2013 at 6:30 PM

This is excellent - nice pose, great berries, nice eye contact, and berry in the mouth!
Just a bit more room on the bottom so the berries are not almost cut off would help.
Very nicely done!
Sandy

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