Backlit Meadow Pipit

20D, 400/2.8 + 1.4, ISO400, 1/1000 @ f8, EV -1/3, 550EX + Beamer @ -2 2/3, Beanbag from car window, RSP + CS2.

Hi,

Took a drive to Elmley on Saturday morning, know a few people go there, the new Swale bridge is now open, to get to the reserve you have to leave the dual carraigway at the exit just before the bridge and cross over by the old bridge and road, otherwise you will be making several trips over the new one.....

Not a great deal around at present and the scrapes are all drying up again, but came across this meadow pip, had to shoot against the sun so pushed in just a small amount of fill...

All the best

Hi Phil

Good detail, great perch and I love the BG. Not sure about the composition, maybe a slightly tighter crop or even portrait mode - minor nit the highlight in the eye looks a little on the big side!

David

for commercial sale I'd supply this but also one in portrait mode with space to the right for the bird to look into. good photo, beautiful light and background and I like the perch. The side-lighting makes the photo.

These dock seed heads do make attractive perches. I like the space around the bird, and the filled shadows.

Did you add the catchlight in post?

Hi,

Cheers all..... Fraid I normally don't crop, only a small amount to A4 proportions usually (probably comes from 30yrs of film use ).

Catchlight isn't added although I did enhance it slightly for web presentation, perhaps a little too much....

All the best

Phil

Hi Phil

I like this image, a nice pose from the bird and the background colours and texture are very appealing. I don't mind the proportions of the bird in the frame, it works for me, but I can also see cropping in slightly would work as well.

A portrait format shot would look terrific I think with the bird on such a good perch.

Overall a top notch image

cheers

Sean

Hi Phil,

I like the head turn and also find the perch very attractive.
Nice light and background too.

The catchlight does look a bit iffy,if you don't mind me saying so ,I think in this instance the image would look fine without one,especially as the bird is backlit and you would perhaps expect a point light source to be reflected in the opposite eye,at least assuming the catchlight was from the sun.

Hello Phil

A cracking image and wonderful backlighting, I am with Justin (not in person) and think it would look better without the catchlight.



Cheers

Dan

Very nice use of flash, Phil. Except for the eye, a very pleasing image

Gee.... now that you have all mentioned it I shouild not have enhanced the catchlight, some you win some you don't

Anyway, here is a version with no enhancement at all just the catchlight caused by the fill...

All the best and thanks for the comments, appreciated.

Good one Phil, a favourite bird of mine.

You got a cracker of a shot of a KF with roach the other day
Look forward to seeing it posted here.

John