This was a cold, beautiful morning. Only a small number of birds were present. They were desperately trying to feed on the few exposed heather tips on this snow-covered hillside. The dark clouds blew across quite quickly leaving the rest of the day as glorious as one could have hoped for. Would have been quite happy to just sit and enjoy the snowscape, the photo was a bonus.
Posted by Brett Lewis on January 4, 2010 at 7:19 PM
HI Des,
I really like this.. It has some amazing atmosphere and really sets you into it's environment. You have captured the light perfectly and even the hint of detail in the feathers but still in silhouette. Composition, light and detail make for a superbly executed image.
I also like the atmosphere you've captured here Des. Works well for me.
Matt
Posted by David Sewell on January 5, 2010 at 3:53 AM
Great shot of the bird in its environment.
David
Posted by Jeroen Stel on January 5, 2010 at 3:55 AM
Wonderful shot Des! I think the only thing i would like to suggest is the use of an external flash and Better Beamer for this type of shot to get that bit of detail in the bird.
Well done!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Posted by Andy Astbury on January 5, 2010 at 4:20 AM
Nice enviro Des - sky makes it for me
Jeroens suggestion might get you in a world of hurt exposure-wise with the snow - personally I like it as it is.
Posted by Kim Connolly on January 5, 2010 at 7:10 AM
A beautiful composition, love it.
Posted by Craig Jones on January 5, 2010 at 7:13 AM
Its been said Des so sorry to repeat it Beautiful composition and light,the sky adds so much to the image IMO and just enough detail in the grouse,wonderful
You've got the exposure spot on for this revealing just enough detail in the plumage whilst retaining the inportant deatil in the sky, really nice image
Cheers
Andy
Posted by Mark Davies on January 5, 2010 at 7:55 AM
Ticks all the right boxes for me,, a really nice image
Excellent environment shot! Funnily enough, I thought of fill-flash as soon as I opened it (since that is what I have been experimenting with recently). Hard to tell in a small image, but I do think the bird could do with just a little brightening. Wish it were mine though!
I disagree about the fill flash on this one. With that highlight behind the bird the eye would have almost seen this as a silhouette so the detail that is actually present in the image is (to my eye at least) an excellent rendition of the bird and better than I would expect to see. Flash would have spoiled this image for me.
Very nice indeed Des.
Robert
Fill flash - I can just about manage macro but like Andy said, it'll be quite a challenge (for me anyway) to use it with snow. In any case, it wasn't the image I saw nor seek. Although I accept that it might be a better shot.
Thanks all for your thoughts, as always I appreciate them very much.
Discussion
19 repliesLARGER
D300, 500mm, f5.6, 1/640s, -1ev, iso200.
I really like this.. It has some amazing atmosphere and really sets you into it's environment. You have captured the light perfectly and even the hint of detail in the feathers but still in silhouette. Composition, light and detail make for a superbly executed image.
Nice one.
Brett
Matt
David
Well done!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
Jeroens suggestion might get you in a world of hurt exposure-wise with the snow - personally I like it as it is.
You've got the exposure spot on for this revealing just enough detail in the plumage whilst retaining the inportant deatil in the sky, really nice image
Cheers
Andy
liam.
As Andy said, good environment shot. Also, taking onboard the comment about a flash & BB, doesn't it tend to spook the birds?
Steve
Very nice indeed Des.
Robert
Thanks all for your thoughts, as always I appreciate them very much.
Des
I would not change a thing
Fran
Ian