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White-crowned Sparrow
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White-crowned Sparrow

by Richard Ditch

Gallery: AvianPosted December 5, 20063,387 views32 comments
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Place: Gilbert, AZ, USA
Date: November 25, 2006
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (2x), tripod
Exposure: ISO 320, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/200th @ f/8
Raw, PSCS2, minor crop for balance

Yet another immature white-crown in desert bloom from the Water Ranch - it is hard to pass up such a shot even if it is a common bird that I've got lots of coverage on.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.

Comments

32 comments
Comment posted by Bob Mullen on December 5, 2006 at 9:35 PM
Common or not, I really like it. :toast:
Registered on June 4, 2006, 133 Posts, 1056 Comments
Comment posted by Josh Anderson on December 5, 2006 at 9:38 PM
The bird is common, but the composition that you have placed it in makes it an exceptional image.
Registered on June 2, 2005, 493 Posts, 2996 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Dubois on December 5, 2006 at 9:42 PM
I'm not sure whether I like this shot more than the previous one of this series Richard. Either way I wish it was mine :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 5, 2006 at 10:17 PM
It looks like he was having a heck of a good time in there, sort of "pillow fight", check out the fluff on his nose. :biggrin: I'm glad he stopped long enough to let you capture this, a really sweet shot!
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by F Timothy Kingst on December 5, 2006 at 10:44 PM
I'm sorry I don't get over to the avian gallery much to have a look, becuase this is amazing, just beautiful! The lighting, composition and detail is just wonderful. I don't know why this one would ever want to leave this fluffy perch, but you've given just the right amount of space and positioning to know exactly in which direction it will happen. I also like the bit of plant on the bridge of it's beak. Really, really nice. :toast: Tim
Registered on November 1, 2003, 401 Posts, 1393 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on December 5, 2006 at 10:45 PM
He may be common bird, but his environment in this image is wonderfully different from the normal (on this avian site) beauty shot. If you would like to pass it up, just shift the image over to my portfolio. I'd gladly accept it.
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Sam Rua on December 5, 2006 at 10:59 PM
Very nice shot, Richard. Great comp. The OOF area in the RH corner draws the eye a bit, but not objectionably so. You've done a great job of creating the extraordinary out of the ordinary.

:toast:
Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments
Comment posted by Satie Sharma on December 6, 2006 at 1:13 AM
Beuatiful shot, Richard! I like this more than the previous one. :smile: :toast:
Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments
Comment posted by Juan Aragones on December 6, 2006 at 3:29 AM
Great composition and light. BTW, is not a common species for me :rolleyes:
Registered on September 28, 2006, 72 Posts, 779 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on December 6, 2006 at 8:09 AM
Well done Richard, another great environmental setting. I was at Gilbert on Monday to get the Harris' and saw all this desert broom all over the place along with lots of White-crowned Sparrows but didn't get any together.
Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments
Comment posted by David Hemmings on December 6, 2006 at 8:25 AM
Lovely environment shot Richard :toast:
Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Maples on December 6, 2006 at 8:53 AM
This is a really neat environmental shot. I'm liking environmentals more all the time.
Registered on January 4, 2005, 285 Posts, 731 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on December 6, 2006 at 9:55 AM
I like both of your presentations of this scene. :toast:
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on December 6, 2006 at 12:02 PM
Over the top Rich!!!! :toast: :smile: :toast:
Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments
Comment posted by Alice Scoggins on December 6, 2006 at 12:20 PM
Great light, and I like the soft look of the vegetation.
Registered on February 21, 2005, 430 Posts, 5959 Comments
Comment posted by Bob Steele on December 6, 2006 at 1:49 PM
Outstanding, again! :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments
Comment posted by Jose Suro on December 6, 2006 at 1:51 PM
What a great image. excellent in every respect. Love the perch and composition. Excellent!

Jose
Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments
Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 6, 2006 at 7:03 PM
Beautiful again Richard. Great job with this opportunity on both your posts. :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments
Comment posted by Ganesh H Shankar on December 6, 2006 at 9:06 PM
Excellent image Richard. Love the colors and habitat you have captured :toast: :toast:
Registered on March 1, 2004, 324 Posts, 1867 Comments
Comment posted by Neil Losin on December 7, 2006 at 12:10 AM
Hi Richard,

I'd love to see the tail and feet, but the unique setting more than makes up for those minor nits. Really neat image :)

Registered on September 16, 2005, 145 Posts, 3524 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 7, 2006 at 3:43 AM
A beauty :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Garber on December 7, 2006 at 6:01 PM
Beautiful!
:toast:
Registered on November 17, 2003, 704 Posts, 3535 Comments
Comment posted by Christine Adams on December 11, 2006 at 8:05 AM
Hi Rich!!! This is SOOOO VERY nice!!! Love the light, pose, BG and setting. Super congrats on the EP!!!
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 11, 2006 at 8:55 AM
Wow, this is spectacular. Love everything about it. Congrats on a well deserved EP.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Dubois on December 11, 2006 at 11:19 AM
Congratulations on the EP Richard. It's well deserved! :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 11, 2006 at 1:10 PM
Congrats on your EP... This is a beautiful image...
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Larry Lynch on December 11, 2006 at 2:51 PM
Congratulations on a well deserved image. :toast:
Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on December 13, 2006 at 10:56 PM
This is really good! Congrats!!
:toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Benner on December 14, 2006 at 6:50 AM
Transcendant - beautifully done.
Registered on December 8, 2003, 482 Posts, 1868 Comments
Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on December 15, 2006 at 6:57 AM
Congratulations on the EP Rich. Well deserved!
Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 18, 2006 at 1:29 PM
LOVE this! All the fluffy whatever-it-is that is perfectly OOF males this somethinbg special, even if it's a common bird. Congrats on EP!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on December 19, 2006 at 10:04 AM
gorgeous :toast:
Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments