Something a little different from me today. Quite a lot different actually.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, 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 don’t post portraits (head shots or partial birds) very often but I was close to this male California Quail two days ago at Farmington, I only had time for a single shot, I clipped his tail and I wasn’t particularly fond of his fence perch anyway. A portrait seemed to be the ideal solution since I really like the details of his head and upper body against the dark background.
Here he’s looking down at his intended landing spot just before jumping off the fence. His black head plume (topknot) is more subtle than usual against the dark background and I’ve decided I like that effect. In reality his head was at a steeper downward angle than this but I rotated the image because I like this angle better. Sometimes reality is in the eye of the beholder.
This may be one of those images that appeals to me more than to others and I’m fine with that. I think it’s unusual in a good way and I kept coming back to it so I decided to make this handsome guy famous.
Or infamous, however it turns out.
Ron
Beautiful!
You had me at “Quail!” Without having much time you caught the perfect moment! This handsome fellow deserved a portrait. Thank you so much!
I agree with all the posts. Just exquisite, Ron.
Thank you, Lyle.
Ron, I love your portrait of one of my favorite birds. We have California Quail in our backyard that live under the pine trees. I love watching them run which they do in most cases.
Thank you for posting this photo.
And thank you for appreciating it, Alice.
This is excellent Ron. I enjoy the technical and aesthetic choices you make in all your images but this is quite unique and particularly engaging.
That means a lot coming from you, Gary. Thank you.
FANTASTIC!!! The lighting, the pose, the background, everything. Wow! This shot is most definitely “wall worthy!”
Love the Quails’ portrait, thanks to you Ron, They are such an interesting bird. Was so excited when I saw my first one in California. We were driving in the Marin Headlands & came upon him as we made a curve in the road. Really like what you did & thanks again for sharing it with us!!
Thank you, Jo Ann.
Yes….quite beautiful !!
Thanks, Steve.
I’m glad you took a portrait of the handsome bird. I find their faces fascinating.
Me too, on both counts. Thanks, Jean.
Reality is OFTEN in the eye of the beholder.
I am fascinated by this portrait.
The faint light behind the top-knot sets it off, and the detail in all the plumage is stellar.
These days maybe too often, EC. Thank you.
I love these critters and this is a super portrait! Thanks so much for posting. I have moved from NORCAL and miss the California Quail sooooo much.
Thanks, Mary. I believe they’re the CA state bird.
So….Perfect. I can’t wait to show my husband. My favorite is the Bald eagle and his the quail. You’d think it would be the opposite ❗️
Have a great day 😁
I hope your husband likes it ax much as you do, Diana. Thanks.
EXQUISITE is the word that popped into my mind ! The composition is dynamic ( for a portrait, anyway ) and the contrasts of value and sharpness of pattern and detail
are– in a word– “exquisite” ! Thanks for bringing us such a beauty…….
Exquisite certainly works for me, Kris! 🙂 Thank you.
Lovely portrait Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
It’s very engaging. Ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille.
Yup, I think I heard him say that, Arwen. He sure didn’t give me much time though – maybe about 2 seconds…
I’m in LOVE! 🙂 A stunning portrait! 🙂 Colors/detail in the quail and the background to set it off are WOW for me! 🙂
Glad to hear it, Judy! I was just a little hesitant to post it because it’s so different for me. I should probably break out of my “rut” a little more often.
Portrait of a Quail by Ron Dudley. Love it Ron. Really like the way all the whites stand out against the dark background. And his eye is shows up perfectly. Great Shot.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
I’m glad you like it, Everett. Thanks.
One of my favorite birds and I love the portrait. Beautiful. Thank you.
Thanks, Betty.
“And I kept coming back to it”….So will I Ron! I’ll be sharing your post with all of my friends on my Christmas Bird Count this morning. This one’s a beauty!😊
I hope your friends enjoy it, Diane. And have fun on your CBC. Thank you.
And that you did! A beautiful portrait it is! ❤️ I really love all the detail I can see here in the feathers and the colors. The dark background is perfect as the slight lightness accentuates the plume perfectly. I really like the changes from brown to black to white and the color mixing that occurs above the beak. Personally I think this portrait would be perfect at any angle…even vertical. I could go on but why…it is perfection! 😍
“The dark background is perfect as the slight lightness accentuates the plume perfectly.”
Good eye, Kathy. I think that slightly lighter reddish background color around the head and plume make all the difference. It’s subtle but IMO it’s huge in this situation. If all of the background had been that extremely dark brownish-black color I don’t think the image would have worked nearly so well.