Waxwing

Discussion

13 replies

Posted by Helge Sorensen on March 31, 2006 at 5:35 AM

Had the pleasure of a flock of Waxwings in my backyard in most of February.

This adult male, was the guard while the rest of the flock was having a feeding-frenzy on apples I had laid out as bait

20D + 500/4; iso800, 1/125, f7.1. Cropped to 80% of original.

Posted by Rene de Heer on March 31, 2006 at 5:38 AM

Very nice Helge, my only nit is the cut off twigs the bird is sitting on!
Rene de Heer

Posted by Justin on March 31, 2006 at 5:41 AM

Very nice Helge,love the upright and alert stance of the bird and I always find snowy or frosty settings particularly appealing.

Posted by Dave Courtenay on March 31, 2006 at 5:43 AM

I guess the perch could be better but still an appealing image

Posted by John Chapman on March 31, 2006 at 5:56 AM

Hi Helge
a very fine portrait of the Bird.
John
Aberdeen

Posted by David J Slater on March 31, 2006 at 5:58 AM

I really don't mind the stump, nor the burnt out snow (before someone comments). I think the image looks realistic and fresh with a good DOF (surprisingly so for F7). Good to see the crest.

Dave

Posted by David Kjaer on March 31, 2006 at 6:02 AM

Hi Helge

A very nicely composed portrait!

David

Posted by Peter Barritt on March 31, 2006 at 6:19 AM

I like this very much Helge. Only suggestion is whether it might have been worth going for a more blurred background with lower f value and lower iso.Also it might be worth cloning out the OOF twigs on the perch. Incidentally we Brits take a very dim view of you Scandinavians hanging on to these birds this winter.

Strangely their information has been well researched because berry harvest in UK have been pretty poor generally.

Posted by Michael Sayles on March 31, 2006 at 6:55 AM

I think it's lovely. The pose is superb - almost regal. He clearly takes his 'lookout' reponsibility very seriously!

I don't mind the stump, or the 'hot' snow. But the BG is a bit distracting, especially with those highlight bands emerging from behind the head.

And another thing: were the apples dead or alive?

Michael S

Posted by Tim Munsey on March 31, 2006 at 7:08 AM

Hey nice Helge, but can't beat the one you have throwing up in the snow. Great proud pose.

Tim

Posted by Helge Sorensen on March 31, 2006 at 8:28 AM

Thanks guys for the comments, it's very much appreciated! I agree about the stumps and the BG, but my wife don't like me to make the backyard more photographer-friendly

Especially BG is a problem, I can never get a distant one!

To Peter: Sorry for holding on to the Waxwings

Actually berries disappeared very quickly here in autumn, and with snow-cover from Christmas to last weekend, I'm surprised how they managed. The flock I had, consisted nearly only of adult birds (out of approx. 70 only 10% were juvies)), I guess the juveniles just didn't make it!

To Michael: Apples where stone-dead, but not too sure about the worms in them

To Tim: You are absolutely right, after that lucky shot you mentioned I should probably leave the Waxwings alone, just can't help it when there around

Cheers, Helge

Posted by Rob Howard on March 31, 2006 at 4:16 PM

Hi Helge,

Very very nice shot. Mega jealous as it don't look like I'm going to see them this winter now

Must keep the wife happy Helge

Regards

Rob

Posted by Phillip Tomkinson on March 31, 2006 at 5:37 PM

Hi Helge I have come back to this several times and can't quite make my mind up I think for me it is the burnt out snow that keeps drawing my eye away from the main subject other than that I find it a nice image one I wouldn't mind for myself.

Phillip.

Posted by Colin Pickett on April 3, 2006 at 2:08 PM

Wonderful shot Helge, wish I could see some of these.

Regards