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Goldfinch on Crocosmia
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Goldfinch on Crocosmia

by David Schoen

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted December 22, 2017567 views5 comments
This is a juvenile American Goldfinch on a spent Crocosmia branch.  I like the symmetry, the detail on the bird along with its head turn.  The color and the background are also pleasing to me.  This is newly postprocessed.

Iso-1250, 500 mm, F9, 320th, fill flash at -1, -1 EV, D 500, tripod, DxO optics lab, ACR 10, Topaz adjust, TK sharpening action at 40%

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 22, 2017 at 4:59 PM
Very nice, David.  I think I'd struggle a long time over how to crop this one, but your solution seems to work well.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 22, 2017 at 5:19 PM
Pretty bird in wonderful soft light, David. For me bird poses from behind are very appealing. Nice work.
 
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on December 22, 2017 at 5:34 PM
David, I've not photographed wildlife and or avian in 25 years now. Once I moved away from 35mm stuff to MF & LF I was hooked on landscapes & closeup/macro.
However, any photographer can relate to a wonderfully clean take such as this finely detailed bird and perch. I agree about the rear profile here and had never really put much thought to it until now. Although from the rear we do not get to see what could be a colorful breast area, the rear profile provides us with a excellent view of the colorful wings and tip feathers overall. So, in the end neither view could be better then the other from my perspective. Both posses their own pluses on the given angle of views.....Nice work here on this one. 
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 23, 2017 at 10:55 AM
David, the details in the young bird's feathers and the spent flower stalk are excellent.  The smooth curve of the perch looks great.  The soft lighting and touch of fill flash pull everything together very well.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on December 26, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Beautiful markings David. Classic over the shoulder look and very nice BG. 
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments