Chickadee! ISO 1600 F/13 1/640 sec...

Nightski

ISO 1600
F/13
1/640 sec

(Download)

SeamusMac Loc: Walla Walla, WA

Beautiful photo! Very sharp and clear.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Very nicely done. You have the focus perfect. I think if this were summer you could see the mites.

carlysue Loc: Columbus

One of the things about shooting birds/wildlife is that they don't always stand/perch in the perfect spot for a great composition. This little chickadee is in that spot! It is framed nicely by the branches and keeps your eye coming right back to the bird.

jayway55 Loc: Philadelphia Area - USA

Beautiful shot! Very crisp and well composed. Love the details in the download.
Jane

Nightski

Country's Mama wrote:

Very nicely done. You have the focus perfect. I think if this were summer you could see the mites.

Believe me Judy .. the mites are dead .. no mite could live in this weather! LOL

Nightski

carlysue wrote:

One of the things about shooting birds/wildlife is that they don't always stand/perch in the perfect spot for a great composition. This little chickadee is in that spot! It is framed nicely by the branches and keeps your eye coming right back to the bird.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

You certainly nailed the focus on this one. I did some pixel peeping. Nicely done. The bokeh is great, and the composition is very pleasing. It's wonderfully balanced and I love the fact that it's in a natural setting, not on a feeder. Have I said I like this image? But beyond that, it's very well done. You had an obliging subject and you captured him very well.

Retired fat guy with a camera Loc: Colorado

It is nice and sharp. I like how you processed it. No over saturation.

Terrym9 Loc: Hillsboro, Oregon

Nightski wrote:

ISO 1600
F/13
1/640 sec

Sandra, I really like this, I find I like pictures of birds in their natural settings by far the best. Nice focus

Terry

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Nightski wrote:

ISO 1600
F/13
1/640 sec

A really good documentation shot. Focus and exposure spot on with a good catchlight.
...but, if this was the full frame, you have a difficult set of components to compose nicely ... and I've no cogent suggestions on improving it with what's there.
Withal, it IS a cute little guy!
Dave

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Uuglypher wrote:

A really good documentation shot. Focus and exposure spot on with a good catchlight.
...but, if this was the full frame, you have a difficult set of components to compose nicely ... and I've no cogent suggestions on improving it with what's there.
Withal, it IS a cute little guy!
Dave

O.k. Can I have a "do over" ?
I've been back to look at this several times, and, although I originally dismissed what at first blush I had dismissed as a somewhat clunky approach to use of the diagonal, it has grown on me and I must admit that I was simply too hasty with my opinion!

What I first saw as awkward, I now perceive to be a perfectly valid and effective use of the diagonal!

Musta had a momentary episode of encephalic gaseous discharge.

Dave

Nightski

Uuglypher wrote:

O.k. Can I have a "do over" ?
I've been back to look at this several times, and, although I originally dismissed what at first blush I had dismissed as a somewhat clunky approach to use of the diagonal, it has grown on me and I must admit that I was simply too hasty with my opinion!

What I first saw as awkward, I now perceive to be a perfectly valid and effective use of the diagonal!

Musta had a momentary episode of encephalic gaseous discharge.

Dave

Well Dave, I don't think you need a do-over. That branch is a little strong, but I would not want to remove it. As you are well aware, little birds do not exactly come out into the open to be photographed. They stay in the tangles and the brush and hide in the shadows. The one thing that is imperative in shooting a chickadee is getting that catchlight. That is also the thing that makes them so hard to shoot. That black head! Arrrgggg! They are so cute ... but I digress ... back to the branch. I think it would be an improvement if I lightened shadows and added a little gaussian blur so that it does not distract. It was something that bothered me in the beginning. I didn't think of toning it down, but your comment made me give it a little more thought.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

As you know photographing sitting birds is rather easy and the results mostly boring . Not to say they can't be special, it's just everyone takes these types of shots. To separate the men from the boys it takes a lot of doing. I would start by opening your lens. If taken with a telephoto check you DOF chart to distance and see what you need to capture a 3 inch thin bird. Your closed down aperture is pulling in the background. No amount of PS is going to remove it, or the looks of trying to remove it. Yes, these types of birds need cover, but with feeders and multi branched Landing zones carefully placed around the feeders with no busy backgrounds will give you much Better results. That's if you want to be a step above the rest. Not easy.......

Nightski

martinfisherphoto wrote:

As you know photographing sitting birds is rather ... (show quote)

I am working on that flying chickadee shot. I've got my spots all mapped out .. that's not the problem. I just keep missing them when they fly. Working on it Martin. Thanks so much for the vote of confidence. That's what it is when you push someone to do better. You're right. I've got this shot down now. I need to work harder at it.

PS ... I've got lots of motion blur so far!