Black Phoebe
Uploaded: September 29, 2013
f/8, 1/2500sec., ISO 640; EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/2500 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 640, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 300.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 50D
Stephen Shoff September 29, 2013
Fall has arrived, and the birds are starting to come back to the tree in my back yard. This is one that has bee hard to get. It is very small, black on black. Yesterday, though, I was able to get him front-lit instead of back-lit. #1546299Stephen Shoff September 29, 2013
Here is another that shows the more common portrait view. #10855849Rita K. Connell September 30, 2013
Shephen what great shots both of these are. for the original post the crop feels a little tight on the right behinds his wing. and I personally would clone out the extra branches it seems a little flat to me. /two great captures! #10856181Rita K. Connell September 30, 2013
sorry just took another look at black Phoebe not flat. #10856183Dale Hardin September 30, 2013
Nice catch on both images Stephen. which camera body did you use? #10856503Michael Kelly September 30, 2013
Very nice on both shots Stephen. Good clarity and I know how tough these little flighty guys are to capture at all. I like the face detail in the second post but the simplicity of the first one. I might add an eye highlight to the first one to bring out the face a bit more. #10856569Jeff E Jensen September 30, 2013
Very nice work, Stephen! #10857079Elaine Hessler September 30, 2013
Wow-those are gorgeous! I agree with Rita-remove the extra twigs. Maybe bring out the shadows just a tad on the head. I like the idea of adding a catchlight.The second post is beautiful too! Love the surrounding foliage-very nice shots! #10857373
Beth Spencer October 01, 2013
I like both the birds but look forward to your edits. We had a Pheobe bird this spring make a nest on the garage. They are very flighty. #10858164Debbie E. Payne October 01, 2013
Stephen -- I love seeing everyone's bird shots, believing that they are the hardest of all to get just right. I prefer black phoebe but that might be because I can see her eye better. I would, like others have said, that I might have done some cloning with the twigs but other than that, I think the first one is the more unique than the other one. Nice capture on both of them. And I am sure that any of your outtakes on these would have been far better than I could have done. #10858472Peter W. Marks October 01, 2013
There's a bird I am not familiar with Stephen, so thanks for sharing these images with us. The nearest similarity that we have here are the juncos which we know as 'snowbirds'. #10858579lisa anderson October 01, 2013
I really love how you caught that pose in the first shot. What pretty little birds. #10859590Stephen Shoff October 02, 2013
I've applied the suggestions. Recropped to add space behind the wings. I did retain the leaves in the upper left. Added a bit of eyecatch. #10859635Stephen Shoff October 02, 2013
And Debbie, an outtake for you. Quite possible a better picture technically, but I wanted the landing action rather that the more static poses. But it has great eyecatch.Dale -- took these with the EOS 50D and a 300mm + 1.4 extender, effective 620mm
#10859640
Beth Spencer October 02, 2013
Great job n your edits!!! #10859662Elaine Hessler October 02, 2013
Beautiful! #10859805Susan Williams October 02, 2013
Wow, these are beautiful shots, Stephen. The edit of the original is very good. This particular breed has such a sweet face, even the adults have a certain innocence about them. I'm a bird lover, too, and I keep asking Santa for the 500mm... but :( #10860839Rita K. Connell October 03, 2013
great job Stephen I like it better. but all of them work well. theses are great captures. #10861308Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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