![\"western-meadowlark-8256-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/western-meadowlark-8256-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI almost deleted this image on my first culling pass because I thought it lacked pizzazz. It has a near-monotone color palate, the bird has its back to me and the setting is, well… different. But as I\u00a0inspected the\u00a0photo more carefully it began to grow on me.<\/p>\n
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1\/4000, f\/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I took the image three days ago along the\u00a0Antelope Island causeway so the background is sand and mud along the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake.<\/p>\n There are relatively subtle\u00a0elements in this image I enjoy including the splash of\u00a0yellow in an otherwise mostly colorless palate\u00a0that draws my\u00a0attention to the\u00a0meadowlark’s face and large eye, the\u00a0interesting and attractive plumage patterns on the back of the bird and the flared tail.\u00a0And the\u00a0setting reminds me of the threatened lake I love, though that feature may appeal only to me.<\/p>\n The tastes of viewers vary widely and I expect the reaction to this image may be tepid. That’s ok and completely understandable – after all I almost deleted the\u00a0photo myself. But occasionally I like to feature an image like this just to stir the pot a little (and to get some feedback).<\/p>\n If you choose to\u00a0comment about the image\u00a0please be honest about what you may like or not like. I can take it – really I can.\u00a0Image critique is part of the reason I blog and\u00a0I’d be interested in your reactions, either way.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n