Sometimes a dreadfully inadequate photo can be a treasure as inspiration. For me this image fits that description but prepare yourself, it’s a mess.
Two days ago in the mountains I trained my lens on this female Black-headed Grosbeak while she was perched in a bush for no other reason than to establish an ID. She was much too far away for quality photos but when she took off my instincts took over so I fired off a quick burst. Despite the woefully inadequate sharpness of the bird the photo intrigued me enough to process it just to get a better look.
I seldom see this species. I only have a couple of photos of them that are very good and none of them are in flight so when I got this wings-up flight posture I was amazed in my ignorance by the yellows under the wing. I had no idea those yellows were there and I now know that both sexes have that color beneath their wings (males are even flashier). The more I look at the photo the more I lust after high quality, sharp flight shots of either sex with the wings up.
So getting one (or more) of them will now be on my short list of high priority bird photography goals. Setting bird photography goals has worked for me in the past, especially when I go public with it like this – that really puts the pressure on. It may take months or even years if I succeed at all but now I know that I’ll always set up for flight or takeoff shots whenever I get a Black-headed Grosbeak in my viewfinder.
Something else caught my eye about this photo. I love that background but for the life of me I can’t adequately explain why and I know that many others won’t share my fascination with it (but broad appeal of the background isn’t going to be my point). Perhaps it’s just because it’s so… unusual, but whatever it is it just grabs me. In my mind’s eye I can picture a variety of colorful (sharp) birds in flight against that background that would really get my juices flowing.
For some photographers that’s all it would take. During processing they’d use a background like this that appeals to them and paste birds into it that weren’t really there. I know of bird photographers who do that and to make matters even worse they don’t disclose what they’ve done. One of them comes to mind as I write this, a Florida bird photographer who is notorious for pasting birds into backgrounds he likes, especially dramatic skies, and then not disclosing what he’s done. I was accused of doing it once with a Northern Harrier in flight and it really pissed me off because of course I hadn’t.
But you’d be surprised by how many photographers do it and get away with it. This Florida bozo has even won some minor bird photography contests using recycled backgrounds.
It’s easy to do, though not nearly as easy to do well enough to fool a knowledgeable and discerning eye. Here’s the same background as in the photo above with the grosbeak removed. Pasting a different bird into this background would be a snap. And you could pick your bird. Hmmm, should I go with a bird that has complimentary or contrasting colors today, that kind of thing.
Sorry, I went off on an unplanned rant with this post but I have strong feelings about deliberately deceiving the viewer and dishonest nature photography so once I started writing it just kind of flowed.
Some photographers (and others) just don’t understand that once you sully your reputation it’s tarnished forever.
Ron
Oh, for a return to the days of “a photo never lies”.
And regarding “dreadfully inadequate photos” I mark myself an expert. Far more of mine are that than are so many of yours that you claim have some major flaw. Like you I have long made a practice of archiving some selected DIP images as documentary of some detail I might not have picked up had it not appeared as the only thing in focus in a frame in which I was intending to highlight something else…as in your example of the yellow underwings of the Grosbeak. I’d have been tickled pink just get such a nice flight shot…focused or not!
At least once I nearly dumped what I’d quickly judged a DIP image while–entirely coincidentally–an award winning local art photographer friend was looking over my shoulder. I had an image of a group of egrets in flight over a local waterway–imagine stark white birdish streaks on a dark green background. Almost the entire frame was extreme “soft focus”. He liked the dramatic, abstract quality and convinced me it was exceptional for reasons other than technical perfection. I’ve since mounted and shown it many times. A copy sold for an outrageous amount in a charity auction. It has become one of the most popular and commented upon images I have shared publicly to date.
I loved hearing your story, Jim.
It’s different from but still similar to my own experience with prints. I’m very often surprised by the images of mine that folks want printed – they’ll choose what I consider to be a mediocre image over one that I think is much better or even excellent. Happens all the time.
Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my.
What a wonderful thing to discover – and urge you on. I do hope that you get that shot – sooner rather than later.
I like that background (busy as it is).
Sigh at the oxygen thief who felt the need to accuse you of chicanery – and a bigger sigh that he couldn’t ask you, but had to ‘spread the word’.
I hope I get it too, EC. Although it’s probably unlikely to happen quickly. I just don’t see them often enough. I was hoping to see some this morning but didn’t.
Put me in the ignorant category regarding the yellow underwings. I see them at my feeders regularly, this morning in fact. Looking through the binoculars and I still can’t see the yellow- their wings just flap too quickly and then they’re gone. Thanks for a most enlightening post.
You’re welcome, Lyle. I was in that same category until a couple of days ago.
Ahh Black-headed grosbeaks are my specialty! I believe you have a juvenile this year hatch. It still has a baby face, shorter beak, more rounded head, crisp new feathers and still a shorter tail than an adult. As far as gender it is hard to tell until molting into the second year. A female retains the striped chest where a male starts to go solid orange. It take the male three years to attain the full black head. Sometimes I can tell gender in the first year hatch by leg color but it is not always true. I have noticed males have grayer legs and females pinker tones. Both genders also have bright yellow feathers at the brood patch that you can see when they preen and rouse. And yes that luscious yellow underwing. If you ever see one close the feathers on the backs and wings look like dappled sunlight shining through the canopy of leaves.
Thanks for that clarification, April. I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to this species so I appreciate it. Once again it was my turn to learn something.
Wow, Ron!! I so enjoyed your blog today!! I totally understand how your capture of this sweet little bird would have you challenging yourself for a better capture. It also pleased me to learn you set goals for yourself. I did that too the 1st time I saw & tried to capture a photo of a Roseate Spoonbill. It was an extremely windy day at Green Cay & I was on the boardwalk & having a terrible time trying to keep the camera steady. It didn’t help that people walking on the boardwalk were making it shake. Not only that but the poor Spoonie was on a branch that was constant blowing in the wind – grrr. I must have taken at least 30 shots & only kept 2, so I at least had my 1st photo of such a colorful bird. I have taken better photos of Spoonies since then but I’m still not satisfied so I’ll keep trying!! I totally agree with you above the photographers who aren’t honest with the photos they present as the actual setting of the bird or any animal in a background that wasn’t behind it!! I also have to admit, being from Florida, being curious about the photographer you wrote about!! Too many people these days are not ethical!!
Thanks, Jo Ann. Setting goals and being stubborn about achieving them works great, at least for me.
Rant away, Ron! I’m totally in your corner — and my hackles are up over you being accused of such dishonesty. Let me at ’em!
This is a great documentary shot. I really like her position and her lovely face. Looks like a couple of those primaries could use a rezip.
My hackles were up too, Marty. That yoyo made the accusation in an email to Mia, not knowing we were close friends, we nearly always shot together and she was with me when I took that shot. She set him straight in no uncertain terms and never heard from him again.
What a douchecanoe!!!
Ron,
For me this was a very timely post. I saw a bird in the backyard this week that I hadn’t seen before. As it works out it was your “bird of post” today. That brings the total to 30 species in the yard this year (I keep a list). I haven’t been able to get a good shot of it yet but I will endure.
Serendipity.
Stephen
Good. I’m glad the timing helped you to ID your mystery bird, Stephen.
“I will endure” is the name of the game when it comes to ethical bird photography.
Great image of the Black-headed Grosbeak, only seen once in my life!
But, your rant always hits home as to why I don’t enter photography contests. No, I won’t bore people with a post of how, a while ago now, someone who artificially played with the background of the entered picture and won. I guess I’m just cynical about contests where contestants can cheat and get away with it. I live in my own world, enjoy the pictures I take and the ones of others who I believe are honest, ethical, upright artists.
Dick, a lot of cheaters win photo contests. It makes me sick.
Love a great look at a bird I do not know. The background looks very beautiful plus it tells me not to look for black-headed grosbeaks in sagebrush flats or desert.
Comparing your photo to Sibley’s images: The yellow under the photo wings is lemon yellow, as described, but a lighter color than in my book. The upper breast in your photo is brown but Sibley illustrates a yellow breast and flanks in the adult female. The tail on your bird may be a bit shorter than the tails on all Sibley’s adult grosbeak images. Could this be a fledgling due to the ventral coloring?
Yes, Pam. I strongly suspect it’s a juvie. I noticed some of the same things you did.
Interesting and very colorful photo in spite of the lack of sharpness. Anyone who takes or attempts to take inflight photos of small birds knows how tough it is to get a perfect photo. Really appreciate you showing the background photo and explaining what you have the ability to do, but won’t do. I know for me it is your ethics that attracted me to your website, and probably is the same for most of your followers. I often have relatives or friends who rave about my amateur nature photos and tell me I should be sending them to Nat Geo or similar. I laughingly tell them what kind of cameras and skills and experience it takes to do things like that, and then also tell them about all the amazing photos they see and how often they are deceived by the photographers and the publications that displays these. We can look at feathered photos just about anywhere, but speaking for your followers Ron, it is not only your remarkable skill, but how you obtain your photos that attracts us.
PS: We do not have the Black-headed here – just the Blue Grosbreak and lots of them.
I appreciate your kind words very much, Everett.
I’ve never even seen a Blue Grosbeak.
It is what it is. Like family, you can’t always choose your background.
In this instance, it’s blurred enough to not be a distraction, and provides a natural backdrop.
I don’t own Photoshop leaving no question as to the source of my backgrounds.
I’m no artist, so it’s all natural for me.
“you can’t always choose your background”
You sure can’t, Bernard. But one of the early lessons I learned is to pay attention to backgrounds when approaching birds. A difference of position of just a few inches can make a huge positive or negative difference. But as you say we often don’t have a choice.
Most interesting post this a.m.! I’m sure I could go on at length about this. I’ve never seen a Black-headed Grosbeak to start with but looking at it’s head I recognized the species. This highly resembles a female Rose-breasted…it’s head is too dark but the eyestripe, size, and silhouette in general nailed it for me. Also I’ve seen some females with just a very light touch of that breast color high up under the chin. I certainly hope you succeed in getting more photos of this species. I would love to see them. That background is quite interesting…it gives whatever is in front almost a 3D effect. Busy but the colors are softly blurred. I like it. Now getting to ‘cutting and pasting’ a bird onto a background like this …it is something I know absolutely nothing about. I have thought sometimes that it had to be done looking at certain photos because the contents, position, or something just didn’t look right…all a matter of ethics and plain old honesty. Enough rambling…this is a post which requires…’let’s sit and chat a while’… ☺️
Thanks, Kathy. It would be nice to have that chat sometime.
VERY interesting! I was unaware of the yellow and would have hardly recognized th grosbeak for what it is! 🙂 Glad you captured it! Other than showing the motion the background is a bit overwhelming for me. Know there’s a lot of “instruction” out there as to how to do that with sky/stars etc. For me that crosses the line between photography and “art”. “Fantasy” creations are fine if they are so labeled! Hope you can now capture a sharp one of the Black-headed grosbeak “wings up”…….. 🙂
I agree, “overwhelming” is a word a lot of folks might use when describing that background, Judy. I really can’t explain why it tickles my fancy like it does. “In the eye of the beholder” comes to mind…