Oftentimes it’s the little things that make or break an image.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this Western Meadowlark 4 weeks ago on Antelope Island. The singing pose is a little less exuberant than in many meadowlark photos I’ve posted but I actually like that for the sake of variety. I was close to the bird so I have good detail, the perch isn’t particularly attractive but it’s natural and the color of the far background complements those of the meadowlark.
But for me the “little thing” that sets this photo apart from many others I’ve posted is how the out-of-focus greenery in the near background frames the meadowlark almost perfectly. I like the image much better than I would if many of the leaves were directly behind the bird rather than framing it so nicely. It’s a little artistic touch that I appreciate.
I’ve learned over the years to make my approach on birds in my pickup a very deliberate one for several reasons and one of them is to get the most pleasing background possible. When I was approaching this bird I intentionally tried to place it in the open space between the leaves when I stopped. At first I wasn’t completely successful but I was close so I was able to slide my lens on my “noodle” (lens rest) and make the minor adjustment necessary to get the meadowlark almost exactly where I wanted it.
There can be a risk with trying to get the bird in the perfect spot in the background – you might approach an inch too close and spook the bird. When that happens it can be a cussword generator (and I’m pretty creative in that department) but when it works it can pay significant dividends.
Ron
The rotten computer is messing (successfully) with what is left of my mind this morning so this image is particularly welcome. It is almost a diorama. And lovely.
Thanks, EC. Sorry about your “pooter” problems. I know the feeling all to well.
Nice lesson, Ron! I’m starting to learn to approach and/or setup with background in mind as well.
Good for you, David. Believe me, it often makes a big difference.
Well done, Ron! The slight curve of the perch toward the viewer enhances the 3D nature of the shot for me. The perch, itself, drives my eye right to the bird, while the framing plant life brings my eye back again and again to the subject.
Thank you, Marty. You’re right, the perch does do that.
I’ve been trying to do the same with our local Eastern meadowlarks and they are definitely not as cooperative as your Westerns! I think the contrasting colors in this one go well together, the yellow from the meadowlark, the green from the background foliage, and the brownish-tan soil even further in the background. Wonderful shot Ron!
Xavier, I’ve heard that about Eastern Meadowlarks though I have no experience with them. Thank you.
Interesting and informative discussion. Thanks to all. My favorite shots show animals in an identifiable setting – over water, among foliage, on a cliff, in grass, etc. It’s engaging to fool with different aperture settings so that the “background” is more or less in focus – totally different feel of the shots. There’s no rule, some shots grab you like love at first sight when the immediate surroundings are sharp; others that’s a distraction.
Interesting observations, Martha.
This photo is like one of those 3-D pictures, the way the bird stands out from the background. Even in the places where the greenery is directly behind the bird, it is still clear that the bird is the subject of the photo – the background doesn’t interfere. It would be nice to be able to choose my approach to a bird. I generally see them when I’m on foot, and they are rarely, if ever, “sticky”, so most of the time I’m lucky to get any shot of them…
I’m glad you mentioned the 3-D aspect of the photo, Susan. I noticed that too and meant to mention it in my text but just forgot to…
Great shot! Great frame, just stunning! Congratulations!
Thanks very much, Dick.
Right on!
Thanks, D. Every once in a while I get things right… 🙂
Everything came together here, Ron whether by design or accident and, it seems, by design. 🙂 It’s easy to get “locked in” on the bird or other things and forget about the background for sure! 😉 Thx for the lovely photo and the reminder……..
“It’s easy to get “locked in” on the bird or other things and forget about the background”
It sure is, Judy. It can be very exciting to get a bird in the frame and in the heat of the moment we don’t think about things we should…
Lovely picture! Everything you say is so true…sometimes there is one thing that spoils the picture and there isn’t a thing you can do to correct it. I was watching a Great Egret yesterday feeding and he flew into a tree to preen…everything was perfect, pale blue skies, a nicely shaped branch, green leaves were not a harsh color, I was elated. When I checked my first shots I nearly cried! There was a dead branch hanging slightly above him that I couldn’t see but with the angle of the sun it cast shadows on him. I tried moving but nothing worked. My perfect pose was lost, perhaps another day…but that is what keeps us going back isn’t it. 😂
“sometimes there is one thing that spoils the picture and there isn’t a thing you can do to correct it”
Exactly, Kathy. After you’ve fired the shutter it’s too damned late, for that photo at least. I hate it when hindsight makes it obvious that if I’d only thought to do something slightly differently I wouldn’t have the one distraction in the image that ruins it for me!
What a stunning photo Ron!! And thank you for the tip about thinking through our background…and the associated risks that can come with it. Personally, I think the risk is worth it…otherwise, you’ll always wonder “what if”.
I think the risk is usually worth it too, Zaph. But on those occasions when I spook the bird I often have second thoughts… 🙂