Horned Lark

Gallery: AvianPosted January 25, 2014727 views13 comments

Another from my recent Utah trip, a Horned Lark in the snow (right where Ron and Mia said they'd be). .

I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible.

Crop to 73% of original (13.1 of 18MP)

f/6.3, 1/4000, ISO 400

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, noodle on vehicle window.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on January 25, 2014 at 7:31 PM

Very Nice image Brian. Good exposure and I like the balancing foreground vegetative inclusion. The OOF light colored vegetation in the background near his beak could be toned down as it draws the eye away from your subject, but that is minor. Thanks for posting, Dave

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on January 25, 2014 at 7:39 PM

Like how you were able to maintain the details in the chest whites -- agree with David -- very nice

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 25, 2014 at 7:40 PM

Beautiful little bird, and a nice view of the horns.
Great colours, natural vegetation.
I agree to consider muting the OOF stuff behind, as it intersects the beak

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 25, 2014 at 7:55 PM

Terrific as posted. A well balanced composition and excellent exposure.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 25, 2014 at 7:57 PM

Great job on the whites in the snow and on the bird, while still getting detail in the blacks. And, you got the horns up! Nice get! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 25, 2014 at 8:35 PM

An excellent job on the exposure and a sweet image, Brian. My only nit is that I find the bright oof stem immediately in front of the beak to be a bit of a distraction. I think I'd try removing it if this were mine (and I wish it were!).

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on January 25, 2014 at 10:00 PM

Outstanding shot Brian, the details of the lark are excellent and the snow looks like crystals, beautiful!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on January 26, 2014 at 7:22 AM

I like your snow better Brian

Very nice color, comp, detail, and exposure of those whites

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 26, 2014 at 8:56 AM

Glad you found them Brian! This is a beauty, I love the snowy setting the Moth Mullein stem, the bird's pose and how well you handled the challenging exposure.

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on January 26, 2014 at 10:25 PM

Excellent, Brian. You very nicely managed those bright whites.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 27, 2014 at 12:13 AM

A lovely image indeed. Exposure is spot-on.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 27, 2014 at 11:58 AM

Ah, the ole noodle on vehicle window trick worked very well. Very nice feather detail on the larger image. I assume they may be eating on the plant just in front of the bird? Nice job handling the bright conditions, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on January 29, 2014 at 3:22 PM

Hi Brian

A beautiful bird, with fine detail and color..... Very. well captured. Agree the Bg is not perfect, but i would just crop a bit on top and on the Rt to make the lark standout more/
Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments