A matter of a few inches can make the difference between a rather pedestrian image and one that’s far more interesting.
1/3200, 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
Yesterday morning just after dawn while waiting for birds to show up at one of my favorite spots in the mountains this young Western Tanager made a surprise appearance in a bush right in front of me. ‘She’ was close and in good light and she even looked my way a time or two.
For me Western Tanagers of any age or sex are pretty special subjects but I think the photo itself is kind of run of the mill. Another ‘bird on a stick’ without any particularly redeeming features other than the bird itself.
1/3200, 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
But it quickly became apparent that what attracted her to the perch was the berries just above her. She moved several inches up the branch and investigated one of them (which she never did eat).
1/4000, 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
Then when she looked my way again I got a few shots that I find much more interesting than the first one above. I think those leaves and berries make a significant positive contribution to the image.
But bird photography is rife with tradeoffs and I think there’s a downside to her new position on the branch – that out of focus twig seeming to stick out of her butt. To me it almost looks like she’s pooping wood and anyone who’s ever been constipated knows how that feels. Once I get something like that set in my mind I just can’t unsee it.
Oh well, I still like the shot.
Ron
Note: Obviously the offending twig would be easy to remove but that just isn’t my style.
Oh the differences a second or two and a different perspective makes… in photography and in life.
And I know what you mean about being unable to see things. I have often longed to be able to reach inside my head and wipe things away from my brain (or at least to be able to tidy them away into a tightly locked cupboard).
EC, the more I try to “wipe them away” the more they persist. That’s just the way it works, at least for me.
Maybe like us, “not quite ripe”.
Maybe…
Pooping wood vs. sh*tting bricks — not sure which is worse. 😉
She is such a lovely little thing. Oddly enough, my favorite shot of the series is the one in which I can’t see her face. I really like her body position, especially the way she’s using her tail as a counter-weight, as she’s checking out the berry.
“Pooping wood vs. sh*tting bricks — not sure which is worse. ”
Marty, if forced to make a choice I’d choose the latter. Bricks don’t have slivers…
But they have rough, square edges. 😉
I guess you’re right. Square edges and a round pooper isn’t a good combination.
Ouch, my eyes are watering at the thought.
Nice! Good thing you said what it was as we don’t have them here and first thing that came to mind was “gold finch”….. OOPS! The leaves and berries do provide better context and scale as to the size of the bird….. 🙂 Of course, always some nits to be picked and, I agree, once you “notice” something like the wing “unseeing” it is next to impossible.
Wonder if berry was “too green” yet tho, depending on the year, it rarely stops anything here! Berries are VERY abundant here this year. They are working the chokecherries as evidenced by the “black spots” everywhere.. 😉
We’re having a pretty good berry year too, Judy. Good thing too, last year was a berry bust.
Even if you’re careful (and I know you are), those “pooping wood” things just happen, don’t they?
Still, what a beautiful bird and what splendid feather detail! I LOVE the colors! But the second shot makes me wonder why she rejected that specific berry? Oh the questions!
You’re damn right I’m careful about that, Laura. Being ‘stove up’ like that ain’t a lot of fun.
Great capture, Ron. I see adults very occasionally but don’t think I’ve ever seen an immature one, unless I misidentified it (I’m pretty good at that).
I don’t know why you think it would be easy to remove that stick. First you’d have to catch her…😉
Lyle, I read your comment this morning on my phone while I was out shooting in the mountains. Your last two sentences gave me a chuckle that lasted at least a quarter mile while driving slow on a dirt road.
I would have loved the first shot, but then I saw the second. And that blew me away. 😀
Compared to each other that was pretty close to my reaction too, Arwen.
Beautiful photos, even the bird on the stick. Lucky for you it did become more interesting. Great color and so very sharp. Any one of them could make the pages of Nat Geo etc.
I’m glad you like them, Everett. Thanks.
Great bird and a quandary! Oh it would be so easy to get rid of that twig but as so as I saw it I knew your thoughts removal without even reading your added note. 🙂 I guess if that twig showed the texture that the top part has it would be more tolerable. But all said it is a beautiful bird and she did pose nicely for you.
She sure did. Thanks, Kathy.
Beautiful images! Do you know what that behavior is where birds “try” out the fruit but don’t eat it? Thanks again for the share & education.
I’ve seen it often, Elmer. Saw a Yellow Warbler doing it just a day or two ago.
Oh do I know, an offending twig in the wrong place, feeling!
For me just seeing a Western Tanager would be a thrill.
Thanks for the post and stay safe!
It’s a thrill for me too, Dick. Thanks.