Another photo I’d forgotten even existed.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I rediscovered this photo last night completely by accident and immediately changed my plans for today’s post. It was taken on Antelope Island early in the morning with the Great Salt Lake in the upper background and mudflats below. The relative light intensity on bird and background rendered the lake a very dark blue and turned the normally unappealing hues of the mudflats into attractive, warm earth colors. I think the background all by its lonesome is pretty neat.
Throw in the colorful and beautifully side lit bird on a natural perch and it becomes one of my favorite Chukar photos of all time. And to think I’d forgotten I had it.
Chukars typically call enthusiastically with their beaks open wide but at times they also make a cute little “chortling” sound that only requires them to open their beaks slightly and that’s what this bird was doing. I can hear that sound in my head when I look at the photo. For me the little poop pile near the bird’s left foot does nothing to ruin the aesthetics of the image – it only adds to its genuineness.
My only regret about the photo is that I didn’t leave enough room in the frame on the right to allow for my preferred 5×7 compositional aspect ratio. I was close to the bird so I didn’t have much wiggle room in the frame and at the time I was more concerned about not clipping any body parts than I was about composition. I could easily add canvas on the right but that’s something I don’t like to do. The afore mentioned “genuineness” is important to me.
The photo is even more meaningful to me personally because Chukars on the island have become scarce to the point that I rarely see them anymore. So I’m unlikely to ever have an opportunity like this one again.
Ron
This Chukar is so very handsome. I love all of the Chukar photos that you have posted. How I wish their numbers would increase again but it doesn’t sound likely. Thank you for sharing this rare beauty with us, Ron.
Very late to this party (did y’all drink all of Marty’s bourbon already?) but, oh, yes, that is gorgeous, all the way around. Possibly my new favorite non-raptor image you’ve ever posted! The blended background is perfection, as is Mr. Chukar bathed in that glow of sunlight!
Marty always gets her share of bourbon, Chris. She makes double-damn sure of it.
And perhaps that’s the REAL reason her phone rings from the freezer! 😂
Perfect. Just perfect.
Gosh! Wow, that is lovely – the photo and the chukar.
I’m glad you like it, Nina. Thanks.
The colors and lighting are lovely. Thank you for finding it.
My mind is not sharp this morning and my mind got stuck processing out Lyle’s “auricular covert”, thus my brain’s process: Auricular=hearing, Covert=hidden, not shown, ahh the birds ear and feathers over the ear opening. So then when I got down to Marty’s post and the term “vertical crop” popped up, my mind went to bird anatomy rather than photo editing. I stumbled around in my head for what would be called “vertical” about the crop in a birds digestive system. I think I need an early nap to clear the fog.
April, I have definitely been there — more often than I care to admit. ❤️ My hubby and I were just talking about the joys of brain fog about 15 minutes ago. (It’s when the freezer starts ringing because you put the landline phone’s handset in it — that’s when you should start to worry.😹)
Have no worries, April, It’s only a temporary fog. Your mind was razor sharp when we talked at some length yesterday.
And this (and a myriad of other photos) is why some of your devoted followers would dearly love to spend time in your files. And we would have an absolute ball together.
Now that would be a fun gabfest wouldn’t it, EC.
Anymore, I have to chortle myself when you go rummaging through your digital treasure chest and come up with beauties like this. This particular side lighting made me notice what I hadn’t before in previous Chukar posts, namely what appears to be an auricular covert.
Lyle, I may have chortled when I found this image too. I hope I chortled instead of giggled…
Gorgeous!!!!
Thanks, Arwen.
Beautiful colors!
Thank you, Kent.
I would love to see a Chukar. Really nice sidelight and the graduation of the background from dark to light in warm colours definitely works!
Thanks, Bruce. Frankly, it’s getting to the point that I would love to see a Chukar too.
Wow– that is one gorgeous photo, altogether ! Bird, background colors,
everything combines magnificently …..even the dropping– if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have read it as a pebble ………
Then let it be a pebble… 🙂 Thank you, Kris.
Chukars are such handsome birds. I’m glad you came across this shot; there’s much to like about it! (I wonder what a vertical crop would look like — the layers of the background are so interesting.)
I’m sorry that opportunities to get more of these lovelies in your viewfinder are now so rare. A sad state of affairs (and resource management), indeed.
“I wonder what a vertical crop would look like”
Marty, I posted a different photo of this bird with a vertical crop seven years ago. See the link below.
Personally I prefer the horizontal because it includes more of the background I like so much.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/12/01/sidelit-chukar/
Ask and ye shall receive. 😉 Normally a fan of the vertical crop, I find that I like this one better.
And I’ll bring the Bourbon to the file-searching gabfest! 🙂
Wow, that is a beauty! Darn sure we don’t have those in Ohio. Beautiful photo.
Connie, you may have some in areas where they were released for hunters.
You are not going to believe this, but just this morning there is a photo of one in Delaware Ohio. No doubt about it It was on an Ohio birding website and the lady wanted an ID. What a coincidence.
Coincidence indeed. There are (often small) populations of Chukars in quite a few unexpected places due to state wildlife agencies trying to please hunters.
Beautiful! Such a pretty bird and the setting all come together. 🙂 Glad you came across it!
Me too. Thanks, Judy.
Gorgeous bird and bokeh but very sad to hear they are disappearing for you.
Thanks, Granny Pat.
Beautiful photo Ron and a shame that their numbers have dropped so dramatically.
Thanks, Everett. A shame indeed.
Incredible focus on the red highlights on this gorgeous bird. As always you are too critical of your composition “imperfections.” It’s a bird outdoors; not a model in a studio. Love your shots.
Thanks, Burrdoo. Like most folks I have preferences. When I don’t succeed with them that doesn’t mean that it necessarily detracts from the photo in any way. In case I didn’t make it clear, I love this image.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Dick.