D5100 and 70-300 Chickadee

Just wanted to share this photo with the group. It's not technically a great photo, but it is a moment that I could not see with my naked eye... captured thanks to brilliant technology.

Beautiful shot Iain.  I especially like the background colors against your bird taking flight.  Thanks for sharing.

... Arry: IMO, background is at least 50% of the shot. It has to be complimentary and enhancing.

... It might be the finest subject in the world, but if the background is nothing, it is not art... not photography IMO.

... Nothing is more boring that a bird against the sky. You might as well take the shot against a brick wall.

... If I don't love the background, I don't waste the shot.

That's nice.  That's a pretty strong piece of "advice", or at least opinion.  You should probably have some shots to back up such a bold statement.

Sorry, bud. Not a good example. OOF and gobs of noise.

Maybe something more like this:



... Your shot is excellent.

... My shots are technically poor, but compositionally good.

Um, that's sort of my whole point.  Who told you they were good compositions?

Take for example you gallery shot of the crow (or raven, or whatever).  Dead center of the frame is probably not what you'd want there.

And thank you.

Chickadees are fun!

Outta here!

Nice chick, r.d.

Again.  Blurry, especially the head/eye, the most important part to get sharp.  Lots of noise, too.

Are these last couple examples you've posted done with a point and shoot?

You really need the eye sharp:



I'm warning you guys, I've got an unlimited supply of chickadees!

Cutie

I'm sorry Iain but I have to agree with nfpotter. If I look at a bird picture I expect to see fine, textured feather detail, the eye nice and sharp, preferably with a catchlight.

Most of my birding is done using just a 2004 vintage D70 and rather short lenses. We don't have chickadees in the UK but our robin is about the same size (different species from a US robin) and a bluetit which is even smaller. So, here are two of mine to demonstrate what I mean:

(You'll need to expand this image to see the feather pattern)

These were with D70, Sigma 105mm and SB800.

David

So I guess I should turf this shot?



--
Nikon AF - One Shot ..... One Kill

Me too.

Little Friend

Hee hee, my sunflower seed bill is enough to buy a pretty good camera every year.  Good one.

This was an uninjured adult bluetit. Just wanted to be friends. Photo from 10 years ago on an Olympus P&S.

David

yadda

You don't want to go into a bird war with David.

--
jakes
WSSA# 107