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Black-capped


Black-capped
Photo Information
Copyright: Lesley Mattuchio (Lesley) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 13 N: 913] (2988)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-11-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon EF100-400 IS
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-11-12 15:43
Viewed: 1244
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my State bird, the Black-capped Chickadee. It is one of the most beloved little darlings of the bird world in the northeast of the US with it's charming antics and friendliness to humans. The Audubon Sanctuary that this photo was taken in has had generations of Chickadees that will fly down to your outstretched hand with seed in it and will land on your fingers and look at you and then the seed and pick one out before flying off to the nearest branch. They will then hold the seed ( usually sunflower or safflower ) with their feet and smash it with their pointed little beaks to break open the seed and feast on the treasure within. By now you have had at least 6 or so that have visited your hand , perhaps landed on your head, shoulders, or even your camera lens . The call has gone out on the jungle( forest) vine and Chickadees are racing to the feast from nearby. They become haunts by moving along with you...flying from bush to bush..coming within 1-3 feet of you...and when you try to get a shot of them so close, with your wildlife long lens ,they are physically TOO close... You see a darling Tufted Titmouse you want to take a photo of...you aim your lens and while you are checking your setting in your viewfinder your lens is moved by a Chickadee or two using it for a perch , telling you to feed him...you get ready for the shot again and as soon as you press the shutter for that perfect Titmouse shot two Chickadees fly up from infront of your lens , arguing with each other about who will be first on the outstrecthed hand if she ever hurrys up and finishes taking that darned Titmouse's photo. So now the perfect photo has blurred Chickadees right smack in front of that perfect Titmouse photo...

They do have a special charm all their own that even when they are being a nuisance, you still can't help but grin from ear to ear knowing you just shared something rare and special in the wildlife world.


I do have a question...I was thingking to clone out that blurred branch to the right of the Dee...should I or not?
Luc, marhowie, Fisher, willie, red45, sandpiper2, coasties, deud, mogens-j has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2052 W: 315 N: 4301] (14719)
  • [2004-11-12 15:59]

Cute Chickadee, Lesley.
I dont see any problem with this blurred branch. I think it gives more DOF for your capture.
You already saw one brown-caped chikadee?

Good work and thanks for sharing.

Nice shot Lesley! Great detail within your DOF, great pose & it looks like your little Chickadee's eye has caught some glint from your flash. It's subjective but I would clone-out the branch..probably. Super note on this one also. Thanx for posting!

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2004-11-12 18:49]

Excelent view of this Black capped chickadeee.
True, they will land on you. I immitate their sound to attract them, they come out of hiding and call back and come real close or land on me. I like em'
The branch is alright, no need to cloan it out. It's up to you.
Well done

Mike

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-11-12 23:34]

I like the blurred branch as it adds depth to the shot as well as providing a natural frame for the Dee.

The image is sharp and the detail good. The tail is falling out of the DOF but that does not distract from the fact that this is a beautiful shot.

Thanks for posting

The picture is perfect as is. ve3ry good job. Nice detail and compo.
Well Done

Very good Lesley.
It's a very nice shot , with very good details, composition and very nice colours.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 75 N: 7977] (26975)
  • [2004-11-13 5:07]

The others said it all, I add only one thing - love reflection on bird's eye.

Great shot Lesley, excellent feather detail, nice pose and good composition.

Nice capture, in Romanian we call them ,,pitigoi,, and they are famous for braving the winter (not migrating) even if they are such small creatures. I think youre composition is natural and elegant and could be left like this, no further cosmetics...

Nice shot. Love the close detail of this charachter. Re your question on cloning out the branch- yes, it woild really enhance the photo for it not to be there.

Congratulations for this shot, very well done.

Lesley, Very good shot of this Chickadee. You caught it's personality very well with all the detail in the head and eyes. The tail going OOF doesn't hurt the shot.
Greetings, Jan

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 2 N: 464] (2157)
  • [2004-11-16 1:17]

super again and again

Very nice littel chap you have captured here Lesley. Beside the perfect techniques I really like his attitude. Very educational note too - thanks a lot.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2004-12-14 21:56]

Lesley, very cute bird. After reading your note, I'm wishing to have some of them around.

Beautiful photo and a beautiful pose.

As for the branch, it's no problem to me.

Lívio

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