If I’ve ever been able to peer into the soul of a bird in one of my photos, this is that photo.
But it won’t be for everyone. Some folks just don’t like head shots very much. They’d prefer to see the entire bird and I understand that. Sometimes I feel that way too, but not this time.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Five days ago on Antelope Island this female (based on behavior) Black-billed Magpie surprised me a great deal when she landed on top of a sagebrush that was just a few feet away from my lens that was already sticking out of my pickup window. Magpies, normally known for their wariness, just don’t get that close – not very often anyway. She must have been within an inch or two of the minimum focusing distance of my lens. She was so close the only things that were sharp in this photo were her head and upper neck. She’s twisted her body so that’s her rump in the background below her ‘chin’ – notice how soft it is.
Her head is so sharp I had reduce my normal sharpening routine by 50% because otherwise I thought the photo looked over-sharpened. Normally I never see even a hint of iridescence in the blacks of magpies but it looks to me like I might be seeing a tiny bit of it here, especially on top of her head.
What I like most about the photo is its intimacy combined with all that detail. I swear I can see the intelligence and curiosity in her eye that corvids are so well known for. It makes me wonder what she might have been thinking as she peered at me so close inside my pickup and listened to the clicking of my shutter.
I hope I’m not overthinking this photo but that’s where my mind takes me. Maybe it’s just because I like magpies so much.
Ron
True. And you have made me feel a smidge (but only a smidge) guilty. And thank you for not laughing at what I saw in that beautiful bird’s eye. And indeed, knowing the times that you shoot I should have thought of the sun.
Don’t feel guilty, not even a smidge. I was only joshin’ you.
This is a beautiful portrait Ron. She is quite lovely. In this pose she appears to have a serene and peaceful sense about her.
Thank you, Linda.
Beautiful photo Ron. No, you are not overthinking it. This photo deserves a moment of speculation and reverence for a soulful encounter with another being that shares this planet with us. It’s a winner.
“This photo deserves a moment of speculation and reverence for a soulful encounter with another being that shares this planet with us”
Well said, Michael. And thank you.
She is truly beautiful and gave you, and us, a very generous gift. And speaking of thinking too much (which you were not) I can see a moon setting over water in her eye…
Thank you. Muchly.
Thank you, EC. We see what we see when we interpret light in the eye, don’t we. And yes, it does look like that. But in this case it’s the sun coming up over a relatively high part of the island.
By the way, your comment made me look at the reflection in her eye more carefully. Now I know that the image could use some clockwise rotation… 🙂
I am sorry to have given Captain Picky more ammunition… Very sorry. This is a stunning image.
“I am sorry to have given Captain Picky more ammunition”
Made me laugh, EC. Who’s being picky – you’re picking on me! 🙂
As I tilt my screen at different angles I can see the iridescence change color. OK, not really, but your photo is so finely detailed and realistic, it almost seems so. Eye ring! Rictal bristles! (have to watch my spelling there). I dare not peer into that eye and presume to know what lies within.
“Rictal bristles! (have to watch my spelling there)”
Ha, I know what you mean, Lyle. If I can say that magpies are covids instead of corvids I wouldn’t put it past me to call them rectal bristles. Now that would hurt…
Great portrait. Aren’t they Corvids, though?
I’ve been afraid I’d make that mistake someday, Linda. Thanks for the heads up. Fixed.
“I hope I’m not overthinking this photo …”
Nope. You’re not.
Superbly detailed photograph, so it’s technically wonderful.
A look at the eye one seldom gets to enjoy as we usually only see birds fleetingly or from a distance. If some of us wander into thinking of a bird’s soul, well, who could blame us?
“Nope. You’re not”
Good to know, Wally. I was afraid everyone would think I was going a little overboard.
As I searched for the right words in response I came to Diane’s comment above and had to go with that. I magical intimate moment it was indeed. That is a very beautiful and interesting portrait Ron. There is so much expression in that eye that leaves you thinking, what is she thinking?
Beautifully done.
Oh, and that silvery beak with the way the light catches it is beautiful.
I agree, Everett. I was struck by her beak too.
“ Maybe it’s just because I like magpies so much.”
I don’t see magpies here in Maryland, but from your descriptions and photos, there is much to like about magpies. Wonderful photos of this striking and beautiful bird over the past several days!
“there is much to like about magpies”
There sure is, Duane. Some folks need convincing (they have some habits that some folks find annoying) but I love’em.
Indeed, her ‘soul’ is evident. Obviously it wasn’t random heedless ‘instinct’ that brought her so close to you, but, as you say, she was checking you out consciously.
She was checking me out intensely, Cheryl. I’m convinced she was really, really curious about me, my pickup and whatever was making that clicking noise.
I love close ups – heads, talons, etc. Great shot! And I can see into her soul as well. Great moment forever captured.
I’m glad you like it, Cindy. Thanks.
Beautiful in several ways. Thanks again and again!
Thank you, Mary.
I wouldn’t have known it was a Magpie had you not said…..! 😉 Yes, there does appear to be some of the iridescence on the top of her head. Nice, sharp shot! Glad she cooperated with you….
“Yes, there does appear to be some of the iridescence on the top of her head”
Good to know I’m not seeing things, Judy. I actually wondered…
Yes, there is an aura of mystery in that image. I would not have recognized the species if you had not mentioned it, as it seemed so exotic.
“I would not have recognized the species if you had not mentioned it”
Kenneth, for that exact reason I tried to crop the image so it included some of the whites below the blacks but it just didn’t work out.
Love it, Ron! What a magical, intimate moment. So glad you were there to capture it. Thank you for sharing it!
Thanks, Diane.