Posted by Craig Strand on February 20, 2009 at 2:22 AM
For all our non-birder members, I would like to introduce what I call Natures Aerodynamic Anomaly... The Ruby-crowned Kinglet!
I was luck to find and then record a few images at the Ridgefield NWR this morning of this little 4 inch dynamo. When seeing one, I am often reminded of the "Guppy" cargo plane with the huge bulbous fuselage often seen at Seattles Boeing field. While very cute, they look like a flying egg with tail and wings, when in fact they are extremly proficient and like hummingbirds are constantly moving.
This is about a 60% crop from the original and I'm sure to many appears to be just another BOAS (Bird on a stick.) IMO, whats nice about this image is that their is an image at all. As mentioned these guys are very active, moving thru brush easily and usually landing on a branch for not more then 5 seconds. The norm is, he lands, you swing the lens around and acquire him in the viewfinder, compose and then as you let the autofocus do it's thing, he's gone to the next branch before the shutter release. Hopefully, one day, I'll catch one that says more then a static pose, maybe with an insect in his beak.
Your thoughts, and critiques.... welcome!
I'll add a second image that captures the sense of humor and play these birds posess. It seems they inherently know when your about to take their picture and often "wave goodbye" before jumping to the next perch, as seen here...
Posted by Craig Strand on February 20, 2009 at 2:23 AM
Seldom seen, "goodbye wave"
Posted by David Cobb on February 20, 2009 at 2:40 AM
I'd love to capture one of these little guys Craig, but they always move so fast and twitter about non-stop. Nice pose in the brambles, you might want to tone down the bright spot in the URC.
Your story amuses me so much, Craig, it's as delightful as seeing this tiny flier. The 2nd image is just kicks to see! I'd be very excited to get such images. I now have in my mind's eye a video of your little hummer playing with you– "Catch me if you can." Congrats on two fine images of a very tough subject!
I also think it's worth the time to work on the bg with selective area toning and blending if you are into that sort of thing.
Posted by Cliff Dodge on February 20, 2009 at 10:42 AM
I like both images and from the sounds of it, your lucky to get them, nice job. I also would agree with toning down the bright spot in the urc. :)
Posted by Marc Dilley on February 20, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Sounds like you were a lucky man to capture this little feller, so congrats. The second image is just precious and deserves a clever title to accompany it!
Posted by Bryan Spahr on February 20, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Great shots Craig. This guy looks like a tennis ball with wings! I love the position you caught in the second photo. I think he is doing a preflight flaps check.
Posted by Craig Strand on February 20, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Thanks to everyone that commented or left a suggestion. I agree that the light BG blur in the upper rt needs to go and will take care of it.
In the meantime, hopefully the nice weather we have had the past few will continue and hope everyone gets some time out behind the camera.
Posted by Craig Strand on February 21, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Repost of original with improved BG, thanks for the suggestions!
Posted by Craig Strand on February 21, 2009 at 8:49 PM
If you wondered about the where this little guy got his "Ruby-crowned" name, here is another shot where he is displaying the red crown, unfortunately another kinglet in the foreground and branches keep this from being a "keeper!"
Posted by Erik Lundh on February 21, 2009 at 11:20 PM
I've seen these birds using our bath in the back yard. They sure are quick little buggers and the do look like flying eggs. Considering how elusive they are, I think you did a fantastic job with your captures.
Posted by David Cobb on February 22, 2009 at 2:21 AM
Liking the 2nd background much better Craig.
David M. Cobb
Posted by Ned Fenimore on February 22, 2009 at 8:47 AM
The second rework of the first capture is perfect.. these are some interesting little birds.. great work!
Posted by Rick Lundh on February 22, 2009 at 3:13 PM
The rework to remove the highlights is a big improvement. I am on my laptop, but it still looks like the branch has some blown highlights. If you can tone that down, I could focus fully on the bird (which does look like an egg! ) Congrats onthe capture...and the patients to endur to get it!
Posted by Mark Hudon on February 22, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Craig, is your reworked version a hair green? It seems like I'm even seeing green on the branch near it's leg. Shouldn't that be gray?
Take it into Photoshop, add a levels layer and hit that spot with the gray eyedropper.
Posted by Mark Hudon on February 22, 2009 at 7:02 PM
I don't see much difference, Craig. See that little bit pointing right to the birds butt? Try clicking on the brighter area just below it.
Color blind, eh? Try following this tutorial. It essentially makes your color corrections subjective (your opinion) and makes them objective (by the numbers). http://pacificnw.naturephotographers.net/tips/color/index.htm
Posted by Mark Hudon on February 22, 2009 at 9:02 PM
WEll, not really. I'm looking all along that branch. What I suspect is gray seems to have a greenish tinge to me.
Posted by Craig Strand on February 22, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Thanks for looking again Mark. With my green color blindness I really can't see it on the branch. It may have been created when I originally used curves and during the grayscale color sample I may have picked up some of the green that the in natural for the bird, and not noticed the green cast. Later at Rick and your suggestions I created a new layer with 50% grayscale and used this to tone down the light peeling skin of the branch, you would think that would have also fixed it. So I guess having done those things I'm at a loss as how to correct it when I can't see it, I have to go in and look at the tutorial link you sent.
Posted by Chris Hodney on February 22, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Looks good Craig. Nice job catching this little guy. Quite an interesting bird for sure.
The adjustments so far look good. The less distracting background definitely helps.
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on February 23, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Hi Craig,
I've missed out on most of this but I like the kinglet pictures you've been posting. They are tough targets and you got some good ones. This last repost has the bird at what I'd say is accurate in coloration but everything else seems to have taken on a magenta color cast! I'd redo what you've done here but mask out everything but the bird when you're redoing things.
Posted by Mark Hudon on February 23, 2009 at 11:35 AM
I think the actual bird looks better but now the branch has all sorts of magenta all over it.
How big is the original file? If it's less than 5 mb, why don't you email it to me?
Posted by Craig Strand on February 23, 2009 at 2:08 PM
That's a very kind offer Mark, but sending the file to you doesn't teach ME how to fix it. A weakness is I don't have a mind that can sift thru the technical end of PS easily, (obviously keeping me from progressing.) I've spent several hours with the tutorial you wrote but so far am only able to get thru the setting of the b/w spots (8/244.) It's now your tutorial but my non-technical mind. I guess best thing is for me to keep trying till I can "get it". Thanks again for your time.
Posted by Craig Strand on February 23, 2009 at 2:41 PM
That's a very kind offer Mark, but sending the file to you doesn't teach ME how to fix it. A weakness is I don't have a mind that can sift thru the technical end of PS easily, (obviously keeping me from progressing.) I've spent several hours with the tutorial you wrote but so far am only able to get thru the setting of the b/w spots (8/244.) It's not your tutorial but my non-technical mind. I guess best thing is for me to keep trying till I can "get it". Thanks again for your time.
Discussion
22 repliesI was luck to find and then record a few images at the Ridgefield NWR this morning of this little 4 inch dynamo. When seeing one, I am often reminded of the "Guppy" cargo plane with the huge bulbous fuselage often seen at Seattles Boeing field. While very cute, they look like a flying egg with tail and wings, when in fact they are extremly proficient and like hummingbirds are constantly moving.
This is about a 60% crop from the original and I'm sure to many appears to be just another BOAS (Bird on a stick.) IMO, whats nice about this image is that their is an image at all. As mentioned these guys are very active, moving thru brush easily and usually landing on a branch for not more then 5 seconds. The norm is, he lands, you swing the lens around and acquire him in the viewfinder, compose and then as you let the autofocus do it's thing, he's gone to the next branch before the shutter release. Hopefully, one day, I'll catch one that says more then a static pose, maybe with an insect in his beak.
Your thoughts, and critiques.... welcome!
I'll add a second image that captures the sense of humor and play these birds posess. It seems they inherently know when your about to take their picture and often "wave goodbye" before jumping to the next perch, as seen here...
David M. Cobb
I also think it's worth the time to work on the bg with selective area toning and blending if you are into that sort of thing.
In the meantime, hopefully the nice weather we have had the past few will continue and hope everyone gets some time out behind the camera.
David M. Cobb
Take it into Photoshop, add a levels layer and hit that spot with the gray eyedropper.
Color blind, eh? Try following this tutorial. It essentially makes your color corrections subjective (your opinion) and makes them objective (by the numbers). http://pacificnw.naturephotographers.net/tips/color/index.htm
The adjustments so far look good. The less distracting background definitely helps.
I've missed out on most of this but I like the kinglet pictures you've been posting. They are tough targets and you got some good ones. This last repost has the bird at what I'd say is accurate in coloration but everything else seems to have taken on a magenta color cast! I'd redo what you've done here but mask out everything but the bird when you're redoing things.
How big is the original file? If it's less than 5 mb, why don't you email it to me?