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Oh So Close!
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Oh So Close!

by Jim Zablotny

Gallery: AvianPosted May 17, 2016132 views6 comments
In the quest for a good rose-breasted grosbeak picture, I'm trying some things that I received from those that critiqued my series of these birds so far.  Step 1 was placing the perch farther away from my blind, step 2 wait for better light, and step 3 use a higher ISO and smaller aperture.  After dashing home from work, I set up my station and waiting for the males to show up. This scruffy first year bird was the only one out of 2 other adult plumaged birds to sit on the perch.  I got the head turn, but he presented himself with a sunflower seed hull stuck in his bill. Other than that and scruffy plumage, I was able to get a fairly sharp, but noisy image.  I used Neat Image to reduce BG noise. K5 IIs 600mm f5.6 (1/320 sec at f10, ISO 2000).  I added some canvas on the left, cropped to full frame, added Brightness & Contrast..........................................Jim

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on May 17, 2016 at 9:51 PM
It is nice and sharp!  Too bad it was not a male in full breeding plumage.  Good pose and treatment of noise.  Thanks for sharing.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on May 17, 2016 at 10:43 PM
This one is pretty good, Jim.
Liked the perch and bird looks very sharp.
Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 17, 2016 at 11:25 PM
Excellent detail in the bird, Jim, and I'm not seeing any sign of noise, so you did a nice job taming it.  Hopefully you'll get that "ideal" shot soon.  Nice work.

devil
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Jake Alletson on May 17, 2016 at 11:32 PM
This is a great image of the bird in its transitional plumage.  Its full breeding plumage will be available soon and if your birds are sedentary like their relatives here in South Africa this one will still be in the vicinity of your hide.
Registered on May 3, 2016, 12 Posts, 163 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on May 17, 2016 at 11:55 PM
Wow! Tack sharp in the larger image Jim. Nice colors in the BG and great look with the head turn.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments
Comment posted by S Govindarajan on May 19, 2016 at 6:30 PM
This is almost there, Jim. Excellent techs and post-processing. The head angle is perfect. I like the hint of the rose-breast. Looking forward to seeing more of this colorful species.
Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments