![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/black-billed-magpie-5221-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"black-billed-magpie-5221-ron-dudley.j\\"")
<\/p>\nJust a quick post today.<\/p>\n
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1\/2000. f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,\u00a0Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Regular readers know I have a thing for magpies. I admire their brassy, sassy ways and at least try to see the proper exposure challenges their black and white colors present as an opportunity for growth as a photographer rather than as an obstacle.<\/p>\n I photographed this one in early March of last year on Antelope Island as it was taking off from a bush during an apparent inspection foray for a nesting site (magpies are early nesters). Surprisingly the photo appeals to me despite the cluttered setting because the myriad of twigs isn’t as bright and distracting as they usually are on the island, I got the exposure of the blacks and whites just about right, I like both the takeoff posture and the takeoff angle, I enjoy the layers and colors in the far background and the magpie is sufficiently sharp.<\/p>\n This is one of those shots where light in the eye is absolutely essential. Without it the very dark eye set against the black feathers of the face would simply disappear into a black hole of nothingness.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In part because of their brassy, sassy ways I have a thing for magpies.<\/p>\n