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Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)


Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
Photo Information
Copyright: Emma Taylor (Aramok) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 922 W: 99 N: 1396] (4799)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 III USM, Digital ISO 400, 58mm U.V. filter
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-10 10:54
Viewed: 698
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Taken on my last vist to Scotland, (March 2007), I was in the middle of a blizzard trying to find something to do whilst my husband was revising for an exam and with no landscpaes visible at all, I sitting in a layby when this female Stonechat (please correct me if I am wrong) came and landed a few feet from the passenger side of my car. She was not at all botherred by the car window going down, or a few quick shots being taken.

Now I'm not known for my bird photos, but I think this one came out OK... The only things that could have improved the situation would have been her not landing at the rear passenger door window, but the front door, and it not being in a blizzard which resulted in rather a lot of snow where I was at the time.

The habitiat this bird (and partner, though no decent photo) were found in was a mixture of immature oak woodland on a wild moorland habitat. Once the weather improved a few days later, I did not see them again despite waiting for hours in the same location, so I guess they were seeking shelter from the worst of the weather.

Taken in RAW and converetd to JPEG, no PP work other than a very slight cropping (to get rid of a rather large snowflake), rezise, sharpen and a border added.

Birds are an area of photography I want to improve it (once I have a decent length quality lens), so please feel free to suggest improvements.

I had the camera in shutter priority so the F-stop was pretty much left to its own devices... ISO 400 is the max my camera will manage without significant noise (camera body soon to be upgraded hopefully)...

Fire away please...

JORAPAVI, Alex99, JoseMiguel, claudine, PaulH, nglen, mogens-j, GLEM, Hil, Raptorman, Little-white has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mogens-j: yep it is the femaleAramok 3 04-11 05:40
To claudine: It was a surprise to me as well!Aramok 2 04-10 15:15
To PaulH: thanksAramok 1 04-10 14:56
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Critiques [Translate]

Hola Emma,
Bonita presentación, buena nitidez, bellos colores con fondo y luz muy agradables. Un cordial saludo

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3030 W: 148 N: 4521] (14603)
  • [2007-04-10 11:02]

Hi Emma.
I like you very nice gentle bird picture. Its colour palette is delicate and pleasant to eyes. Image of the bird is detailed and sharpened very well. It stands out of the BG excellently. I also like the rain droplets, They look very nice. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

Hello Emma,
This is a fine bird photograph!
The point of view is good and the plumage comes out very well...
I'm always impressed by how they can sit on thin wires!
Close-up work here is skilfully done, and the background enhances the subject well...
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Emma,
This is a very good image of this stonechat!
You got very clear and sharp details on the bird and on their beautiful plumage.
The light background gives us the sensation of the snowy weather there.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

Hi Emma,
poor little birdy, we realy can see that it is cold at the moment. I like the lovely moment, very well done, thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • star74 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 294 W: 5 N: 619] (2466)
  • [2007-04-10 13:49]

Hi Emma,
Great stonechat capture with fine details on its lumage.
Well presented.
TFS

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1032 W: 26 N: 2994] (10800)
  • [2007-04-10 14:03]
  • [+]

Hi Emma,

great shot with beautiful colours and nice composition, but surely their should be a peak of some sort in the b/g? ;o)

Lovely stuff,

Paul

(I can recomend the 400D by the way :o)

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 5 N: 5528] (20896)
  • [2007-04-10 16:13]

Hi Emma.This is a great picture of the Stonechat. Fine detail well in focus,with warm colours.good DOF and compostion.well done TFs
Nick

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2801] (10142)
  • [2007-04-10 16:44]

Hola Emma.- Me agrada mucho esta bella foto, con hermosos colores y una especie de ave nueva para mi.
Saludos Luis52.

Hello Emma

Very nice little chap you have captured here. We have it Denmark too where it is know as "Sortstrubet Bynkefugl" - a long name. It is a very rare breeding bird (some 15-20 pair) and a rare migration bird too. Its cousin (Saxicola rubetra - Winchat in English) is more common here.

Very nice picture with good sharpness and nice details in the plumage. Well blurred background to set off the bird in a nice way. The colours look very natural. The colours indicate that it could be a female.

Well done
Mogens

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 693] (5739)
  • [2007-04-10 17:48]

hi Emma,
très belle image de ce petit oiseau. Les conditions n'étaient pas idéales mais le résultat est très bon. Couleurs et netteté superbes, composition simple mais efficace.

tfs

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1406] (4831)
  • [2007-04-10 18:07]

Hi Emma

A beautiful capture of this cute little Bird, nicely composed with a great POV and pose, the feather detail is nice and sharp with lovely colours and a nice blrred BG with a hint of the snow you spoke about.

TFS Hilary :o)

Hello Emma!
What a lovely picture you got here. Is it still snowing?
I like the colors of this one, the background and the bird. they compliment each other very well.
i love the sharpness you managed here, with the DOP to allow the bird to stand out so well.
steph

Hello Emma,
I was surprised to see a bird picture from you and I must say that it is very well done. This little subject is a beauty and this is a sharp and well composed capture. I also like those tones of colors and nice catch light in its eye. Well done!
Claudine

Hello Emma , very nice photo , details and colors super , TFS.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1329 W: 107 N: 4791] (21282)
  • [2007-04-14 16:08]

Hello Emma ! A very nice bird shot ! Very sharp , full of details, a very nice warm light, a great background and a well composed image. Well done and thanks.

Mario

:-)

I have no technical indications for you, I'm sorry. I can only say that this little, tender bird is delightful.
I think you'll have a promising future as bird-watching...
Regards
Violetta

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2007-04-19 8:17]

Hello Emma,
Your little friend looks w very cute, the song like a bird on a wire comes to mind. Lovely composition, and the POV is excellent. Colors, sharpness and details are great.
Sky

Witaj Emma!
Sliczny ptaszek. Ladnie odznaczaja sie piorka. Dobre t³o. Mysle, ze to sciana budyku.
Gratuluje zdjecia i pozdrawiam - Roma

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