![\"loggerhead](\"http:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/loggerhead-shrike-6586-ron-dudley2.jpg\" "\\"loggerhead")
<\/p>\nBirds on Antelope Island have been few and far between lately and yesterday was no exception.\u00a0 But a couple of Loggerhead Shrikes saved my morning and taught me yet another lesson in light.<\/p>\n
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\u00a01\/1000, f\/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n It was mostly cloudy on the island when we got there just as the sun was coming up over the mountains but there was a crack in those clouds that provided some very warm light for a few minutes just as we found this cooperative shrike.\u00a0 The golden light provides colors to\u00a0the bird and perch\u00a0– an effect that I like,\u00a0especially with the dark storm clouds in the background.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a01\/500, f\/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I was only able to get off a few shots before the shrike flew to another perch, which gave me side light on the bird.\u00a0 This is a tricky lighting situation.\u00a0 When the bird was facing left into the sun the bright whites on the breast\u00a0 and neck “blew out” (too bright with no\u00a0detail) and the\u00a0shadows on the back of the\u00a0shrike were too dark.\u00a0 But when it turned to its right and looked over its shoulder at me the exposure worked much better.\u00a0 The problem with this pose was getting both\u00a0light in the eye\u00a0and<\/em> good eye contact.\u00a0 This image\u00a0was one of the few that worked.\u00a0 I like the contrasting cool and warm tones on the shrike.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a01\/250, f\/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n A few minutes later we found another shrike that\u00a0was willing to pose, but by that time the sun had risen into the clouds and I thought any semblance of decent light was gone.<\/p>\n This is a shot that I normally wouldn’t even take because that time of the morning, and on this perch, the bird is back-lit.\u00a0 But with the sun\u00a0in the clouds (behind the bird)\u00a0there was enough light provided by some openings in the overcast\u00a0to the west to\u00a0provide nice, even light on the shrike.\u00a0 I liked this particular pose,\u00a0partly because those relatively\u00a0bright\u00a0areas behind me were enough to get a catch light in both eyes – even in this very subdued light.\u00a0\u00a0I also enjoy the\u00a0cool\u00a0monotones throughout the image and the detail here is incredible.\u00a0 I wish you could see a larger version of the image…<\/p>\n I suspect this to be more than you wanted to read about light\u00a0but I learned something yesterday morning.\u00a0 Don’t pass up a shot just because you assume<\/em>\u00a0 a particular lighting situation\u00a0precludes a decent image.\u00a0 Occasionally you can be pleasantly surprised.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Birds on Antelope Island have been few and far between lately and yesterday was no exception.\u00a0 But a couple of Loggerhead Shrikes saved my morning and taught me yet another lesson in light. \u00a01\/1000, f\/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in It was mostly cloudy on the island when we got there just as the sun was coming up over the mountains but there was a crack in those clouds that provided some very warm light for a few minutes just as we found this cooperative shrike.\u00a0 The golden light provides colors to\u00a0the bird and perch\u00a0– an effect that I like,\u00a0especially with the dark storm clouds in the background. \u00a01\/500, f\/7.1, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in I was only able to get off a few shots before the shrike flew to another perch, which gave me side light on the bird.\u00a0 This is a tricky lighting situation.\u00a0 When the bird was facing left into the sun the bright whites on the breast\u00a0 and neck “blew out” (too bright with no\u00a0detail) and the\u00a0shadows on the back of the\u00a0shrike were too dark.\u00a0 But when it turned to its right and looked over its shoulder at me the exposure worked much better.\u00a0 The problem with this pose was getting both\u00a0light in the eye\u00a0and good eye contact.\u00a0 This image\u00a0was one of the few that worked.\u00a0 I like the contrasting cool and warm tones on the shrike….<\/p>\n![\"loggerhead](\"http:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/loggerhead-shrike-6622-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"loggerhead")
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