Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Forums · UKNP

Black Grouse

Discussion

11 replies
Posted by Andy Shepherd on June 26, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Black Grouse

Another shot from the Snipe site, this time a calling Black Grouse, sat on his wall at first light. This guy has been around as long as I have been visiting this site, and by the looks of him he's a very old boy, with very worn feathers ( though he can still fly very well ) he seems to have lost quite a few feathers from around his neck which maybe down to his age. Earlier in the year he was sat in one of the lower valleys surrounded by 20+ Grey Hen, the lucky devil!

1/80th @ f5.6 +2/3rds iso400

Please view the large version

Thanks for the feedback on the Skylark and thanks for looking.

Andy... :wavey:
Posted by Phil Ellard on June 26, 2013 at 3:20 PM
Wow, very cool :toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Mike Smith on June 26, 2013 at 3:33 PM
That is one special wall you have up there Andy!

Shame its not a prestine feathered bird, but that's nature photography!
Posted by Neil Burton on June 26, 2013 at 3:49 PM
This snipe site certainly holds a good variation of species Andy. A cracker, shame about the neck but makes him unique. :toast:
Posted by John Robinson on June 26, 2013 at 6:17 PM
Andy. Try cloning some feathers mate !!! Nice one . We have walls around here but they,re all brick!!
Cheers
JR
Posted by Bob Johnson on June 27, 2013 at 8:40 AM
That cracking wall again and a neopolitan BG, you have it all there Andy :wink:

Bob :smile:
Posted by Nick on June 27, 2013 at 11:04 AM
Almost oven ready :biggrin: .. he must have been a good fighter if the ladies liked him!
Posted by Graham Goddard on June 27, 2013 at 11:31 AM
A dog-eared BG, nicely caught Andy.

Love the setting and BG, bet you wish the bird had been to 'make-up' before he appeared in public though :wink:
Posted by Stephen Kaluski on June 27, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Hi Andy, the wall IMHO certainly makes the image, as it's different and brings a nice texture and contrast to the overall image. The image does have an untagged profile so you might like to check that, but I would drop the Cyan somewhere between 60-70, the wall is too blue I think? Greens certainly are vibrant, even for Yorkshire, LOL. Nice detail in the plumage, although perhaps you might like to consider to open it up just a wee fraction. Nice detail in the eye & eyebrow, cool image. :toast:

TFS
Steve
Posted by Nick Mckeown on June 27, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Mr Shepherd does it again! Love the tatty look to the grouse Andy as it really tells a story. Nature is far from picture perfect and is red in tooth and claw. He must be a scrapper! One of your best IMHO. :wink:

Nick. :toast: :toast: :toast: :jump: :wavey:
Posted by Andy Shepherd on June 28, 2013 at 2:51 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys and thanks SK for the processing tips, both are very much appreciated :toast:

Andy... :wavey:
Posted by keith mitchell on July 1, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Andy i'm with Nick one of your best :wavey:

Keith. :smile: