Posted by Geoff Shapiro on April 17, 2006 at 2:50 AM
Geez, it has been a very long time since I last peeked my head into the PNWNP forum! There are so many new people posting here and posting so many really good shots!! Well, that is really great to see. I'm not sure why I've not been around here but I'll just attribute it to the winter blues during which time I'd hardly gotten out and done any photography. With spring hitting the valley I've been getting out the last 2-3 weeks. It feels good.
This Chestnut-backed Chickadee showed himself to me during one of my walks around the Charbonneau area that I live in. Until I had him in my viewfinder I thought he was the more common Black-capped Chickadees and I was surprised and quite happy to see what I really had in my sights.
My god, they're so tiny and quick, how do you do it? Must be some a that hi-tech stuff, you didn't really capture this while adjusting lenses & all, now did you? Then again it looks like you did. Great capture!
Posted by Mark Hudon on April 17, 2006 at 12:19 PM
I really can't imagine anything harder than photographing birds. He seems like he's in a bit of an awkward pose but I think the color, DOF and framing are all well done.
Posted by Ned Fenimore on April 17, 2006 at 1:19 PM
It looks really good Geoff... The sharpness looks very good..
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on April 17, 2006 at 2:32 PM
Thanks guys!
Eric - yes, these little ones really do flit about and most of the time seem to be a constant motion machine. I got lucky with a few of them when they decided to sit in a small tree about 15 feet from where I was along the Willamette River. This one actually sat on this branch in various poses for about a minute which is almost an eternity for these birds! The only lens adjustment I needed to do was focus (and it's AF). I shot in Av mode so I only needed to adjust aperture, ISO, and EC.
Mark - he was quite comfortable in his position, it was me doing the photography that was in the uncomfortable position!
Posted by Rick Lundh on April 18, 2006 at 12:53 PM
Geoff,
Great to see another post...I agree with Mark, it doesn't look like the bird is comfortable, but the comp is great and so is the processing. You really nailed the DOF here.
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on April 18, 2006 at 1:00 PM
Hi Rick, and thanks for the reply! I think what Mark and you are noticing is that there was a slight breeze and this was causing the chickadee's feathers and down to fluff up. It does have the overall effect of making the bird look "uncomfortable" as you put it. The reality is that I think he was quite comfortable!
Discussion
6 repliesThis Chestnut-backed Chickadee showed himself to me during one of my walks around the Charbonneau area that I live in. Until I had him in my viewfinder I thought he was the more common Black-capped Chickadees and I was surprised and quite happy to see what I really had in my sights.
20D, 300/4L + 1.4x, 1/400 @ f6.3, ISO 200
Eric - yes, these little ones really do flit about and most of the time seem to be a constant motion machine. I got lucky with a few of them when they decided to sit in a small tree about 15 feet from where I was along the Willamette River. This one actually sat on this branch in various poses for about a minute which is almost an eternity for these birds! The only lens adjustment I needed to do was focus (and it's AF). I shot in Av mode so I only needed to adjust aperture, ISO, and EC.
Mark - he was quite comfortable in his position, it was me doing the photography that was in the uncomfortable position!
Great to see another post...I agree with Mark, it doesn't look like the bird is comfortable, but the comp is great and so is the processing. You really nailed the DOF here.