Goldcrest

A Goldcrest taken in oxfordshire over the weekend. I find these very difficult to get decent shots with - I am still not happy with this - I had to clone out a branch and I think it is still too cluttered, but it is my best so far.

Nikon D300s
Nikon 200-400mm at 400
Tripod and 393 Head
F4
1/400s
ISO 800

Small crop, contrast and saturation, cloned a branch out!

Thanks

Oscar

well done for getting one Oscar I have only managed to get cluttered shots of these never a good clear shot they are so difficult, but still lovely to see, i love the bird just the bg is very bright but like I said they are difficult

Thanks Karen - the light was horrible, and I had to brighten it a bit, resulting in that bg

You did well Oscar, these are tiny birds.
Glad to see you're new lens is working ok
Well done.

Geoff.

Hi Oscar, keep plugging away...these are difficult birds to take and get good shots. I think if your prepared to remove a branch in photoshop then it would be worth learning about photoshop layers so that you can affect brightness in just one part of the photograph (although you would need to declare it).

Nice shot btw.

Ian

Hi Oscar,

Great effort. These are very difficult birds to get shots of. They never stay still for long and seem to pick the most cluttered places to be. The lighting was not in your favour either.

Keep it up and you will get there in the end.

Shaun

Hi Oscar.
Oscar give yourself a pat on the back,good image of a very difficult little bird.

Keith.

Very difficult to photograph, but you did a good job.

Hi Oscar
Good attempt on a difficult species but overall it isn't do it for me. The bird is looking away too much and shooting into the bright background hasn't worked. What I do like is the 'active' feel the image transmits because of the pose captured - a very important element to include with this species.
Photographers such as Danny Green, Andy Parkinson, etc are successful because they return to the same subject time and time again until they achieve top quality shots. A lesson for us all?

Cheers,
Chris

Hello Oscar.

Its a fine capture of the bird with some very nice detail. Setting isnt the best but its a great start and one you should be happy with. Keep trying and I hope you get the shot your looking for.

Minor nits covered. A much closer image of a Goldcrest than I have ever managed. Well done.

I can only echo the above Oscar, a fab image !!
Regards,
Paul Rosser.

Keep at it Oscar

All been said already


Glad you got the lens sorted