Barn Swallow

Spent a great weekend with Phil at various locations, but also met up with Rob Fisher and his Dad which was a privilege, and a pleasure to meet you!!

After leaving them both today, we decided to move on to Elmley where these chaps were extremely obliging. I have wanted some decent images of the swallows for a few years now, as they have never settled for me previously anywhere. Needless to say I came away very happy!

A slight crop for composition, hand held, 40D (Phil's) 300mm +1.4 t/c, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/250th.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Fran

Always good to get something you have really wanted for a while isn't it Fran? I love the composition and the detail in the bird here, but on my monitor the back of the head almost bleeds into the background. If I look very carefully I can just make the edge of the head out. Possibly just my monitor.

David

Hi Fran
Nice Swallow shot but also it does look dark on my gear. The backdrop is certainly not helping Maybe a tiny bit too far right also ?
See you soon.
Cheers
JohnR

Looks great to me! I think dark images need to be viewed against a really dark screen rather than the default light grey (on mine at least). Then I can clearly see the edge of the back of the head - I'm very envious as I have the same difficulty.

Lovely portrait (open beak works very well) and great light - particularly love the use of space.

Cheers,
Chris

Nice image Fran, looks like you had some real harsh light.

Great shot Fran, I think you have the colours just right on this beautiful bird.
Bronia

Colours look good to me Fran. Nice composition too. I'm not sure if I might clone a bit of poo out but then again thats how they are found. Never managed a shot anywhere near as good as this.

You've held the whites and darks well here Fran. Nice composition too.

Rob

Fran,

Great image. Really like the head turn and catch light in the eye.

Lovely to meet you at the weekend, thanks for showing us the sites of Kent.

Rob

Beautiful, and I actually quite like the way it merges a little into the background.

They're certainly pretty little birds aren't they, you don't appreciate it as they're usually flying too fast to be able to!

Hi Fran.
Looks beautiful to me.
Keith.

Thanks one and all for your c & c's much appreciated.

Rob, It was a pleasure, and I hope we can do the same again next year. Glad you both enjoyed yourselves, and happy that you got home safely.

Fran

Lovely, the darkness of the bg sets the image very well... the comp works nicely... so glad you got images of swallows you are pleased with and so you should be.. xxxx

Excellent shot, I like the distance to the left, and the expectant stare as if its mate is about to fly in.
I'm sorry we decided to head south after the pond dipping, you certainly saw this great opportunity.
Thanks for showing us around your patch, we had a wonderful weekend.