![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/willow-flycatcher-1991-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"willow-flycatcher-1991-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nAnd a better explanation of why I like to crop significantly to get even more detail in my sharper images.<\/p>\n
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1\/4000, f\/7.1, 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<\/em><\/p>\n A week ago today while I was attempting to photograph other birds in the mountains I was very surprised when this Willow Flycatcher landed directly in front of my lens, so close I could barely keep all of ‘him’ in frame vertically. I knew I wouldn’t like my photos without enough room above and below the bird for an acceptable composition so I took a chance and took the time to rotate my camera to vertical for this and other photos.<\/p>\n When I do that at least as often as not the bird takes off while I’m in the process of rotating but thankfully this guy stuck.<\/p>\n This was one of those times when I’m convinced that the bird landed as close as it did because he was curious about me and my pickup. Most of the time he was here he appeared to be looking directly at me or somewhere else inside my pickup. He put up with the loudly clicking shutters and just stared. I’m glad I took the chance and rotated because I like the background and the fine detail in most of the bird, despite the soft tail (not enough depth of field at this close distance).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So you know me, I cropped in tightly on his head to enjoy more of that detail. I do this often enough that some readers may be growing weary of it but this is an opportunity that relatively few people ever get with a wild bird so I often can’t resist.<\/p>\n Think about it. This is a close-up view at much<\/em> larger than life size (if you’re looking at it on a big screen like I am) and at a sufficient resolution to show significantly more detail than you’d be able to see even if you had the bird in the hand. Watching this bird in the field with the naked eye, even if it was as close as this one was, you’d never be able to see fine details like the tiny hook at the end of his bill, the rictal bristles or the fine feather structure as well as this.<\/p>\n And especially for those of us with less than 20\/20 vision, seeing this much detail in a wild and free bird can be a real treat.<\/p>\n So that’s why I do it and I’m likely to continue to do it. It tickles my fancy.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" And a better explanation of why I like to crop significantly to get even better detail in my sharper images.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/willow-flycatcher-1991b-large-crop-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"willow-flycatcher-1991b-large-crop-ron-dudley\\"")
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