Like a Bird on a Wire

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Like a Bird on a Wire
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 544 W: 0 N: 1303] (4365)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon 100-400mm IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/750 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Song Lyrics [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-17 5:19
Viewed: 491
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
After Mr. Shannon's Crow on a Wire, here's a Common Redpoll on a Branch. It reminded me of Leonard Cohen's song, my Montreal - now a Buddhist monk - compatriot, which lyrics I include in this post.

This photo was shot the day before the storm and looking at it who could have said that "tomorrow there will be a snow storm"? Not the birds, that's for sure, but if one seriously thinks of it... maybe they know.

This Common Redpoll is a female and you clearly see her chest, with the brown stripes on the side and without the reddish "flames" on it like the male (in French these birds are called "Flamed" Redpolls - sizerins flammés). It almost looks like she is under a palm tree but don't get me wrong, it's a pine tree and underneath there's about three feet of snow.

Francine

Shot in RAW converted to JPEG and resized for TN
Slight adjustments in Lightroom
ISO 400 at 400mm

Like a Bird on A Wire (Leonard Cohen)

Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a worm on a hook,
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
If I, if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was never to you.

Like a baby, stillborn,
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
He said to me, you must not ask for so much.
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
She cried to me, hey, why not ask for more?

Oh like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Adanac, marhowie, eqshannon, angybone, Argus, MMM, horia, nglen, undoredo, bobair has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 1 N: 3939] (13258)
  • [2007-12-17 5:24]

Hello Francine,
Splendid image of this beautiful lady, great composition, focus and lighting. What a difference a day makes, yes. Thank you for this superb posting with great note.
Rick

Hi Francine

Good shot.TFS

Regards
Amir

Nice detail, colors & well managed exposure Francine.
I like the POV from below, and the BG of OOF pine needles..I enjoyed "Like a Bird on a Wire" very much as well :)
Merry Christmas!
Howard

My goodness...is Leonard a Buddhist now? Wow...things are going back in circles again...I live that guys lyrics andhaunting melodies because they are pieces of his life and sometimes they match other times in mine.
As to the photo...with background OOF in this way it does have a Zen like quality to it...and it is a fragile image which appears as if it would break easily if dropped...or disappear as fast if I don't look quickly once more...A nice piece of photo magic Francine...You are quite the philosopher photographer...
Bob

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1702 W: 5 N: 2123] (11730)
  • [2007-12-17 6:41]

Bonjour Francine,

Bravo pour cette belle photo.La pose de l'oiseau est parfaite et l'environnement est très joli.

Félicitations et merci pour le partage.

Joseph

Another fan of Cohen! :)
I used the title for one of my photos as well.
A wonderful shot and great notes.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2007-12-17 7:13]

Hello Francine,
This is a fine capture of a female Redpoll taken with good sharpness and from a great POV in a superb composition on the pine branch.
The lighting is great and I like the blurred BG of pine needles. These needles are longer than those of our Scots Pine.
I like Leonard Cohen too!
Well done and thanks for sharing this one,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 0 N: 1457] (6594)
  • [2007-12-17 7:18]

Bonjour Francine
Belle presentation.Bon POV et image avec de bon details.Belle lumiere aussi.
Merci Michel

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2070 W: 214 N: 3542] (11790)
  • [2007-12-17 7:28]

Hi Francine

A very beautiful post and a great note to go with it!
I love Leonard Cohen and i have some of his songs, but i'm affraid i didn't hear this one...i must ask a friend that i know has a lot to lend me the CD so that i can lesten to it. (my personal favorite of his is "Alexandra Leaving")
The capture is very nice with a totally natural feel to it.
The redpoll is presented well - with great sharpness, lovely colors and in a good light. Very good choice of the DOF and nice control of the expsure, too.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Bonjour Francine
J'aime beaucoup ta photo, belle composition et couleurs!
Et la note aussi.
Merci pour le partage
Fabrice

Hello Francine,
Excellent post of this beautiful Red Poll. Excellent Depth and lighting. Great angle as well...
Steve

Bonjour Francine,
Lovely captured of this cuttie that sharing us with a song!
great pose with total sharpness, vivid colour and details in the shot
well done and the notes
best regards
merci
Tony

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1266 W: 103 N: 4311] (19463)
  • [2007-12-17 10:17]

Salut Francine, elle est superbe ta photo du Sizerin flammé, cette petite femelle te fait une jolie pose juste pour toi ! La composition est magnifique et la qualité technique de 10/10. Bravo et merci de partager.

Mario

Hello Francine
You have got a wonderful pov here and I really like the way you pointed the camera at the sky to gain a high shutter speed...as for the lyrics...I dont know the song but they are great lyrics...hunm it and I will work out the bass line..is there a drummer in the house!!
Seriously Francine this is a fantastic capture..I hope that you arent to covered in snow today..and when it thaws..cripes
All the best to you
Paul

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2007-12-17 12:32]

Hi. Late home again just a quick note to say good picture . Nick.

Hello Francine,
Firstly, thanks for the kind comments on my Chickadee shot. :-)
Very beautiful and spendid shot of this Redpoll you present here.
This bird is very attractive to me. So cute and pretty!! :-)
I personally love this pose and blurry bokeh very much.
Well prensented with your good note as well. :)
TFS and best wishes,
Kevin

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2007-12-18 2:30]

Francine,
great capture!
Excellent focusing to get it spot-on through all those branches.
Good colours and lighting.
I like you note :)
Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • bobair Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 73 N: 1090] (4080)
  • [2007-12-18 19:09]

Hi Francine,
this photo has a light and airy feel to it,very nice indeed.Good details shine through with an interesting point of view and the colours are pure.I like Leonard Cohen music as well so an attractive bird and a great song writer make this a welcome upload and thank you for sharing. First we take TN then we take Berlin... Bob

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