Backlit- Blue Winged Warbler.

Posted by Laura Stiefel on Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:38 pm

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Magee Marsh, Ohio

D30, Sigma 400 f/5.6 APO Macro HSM @ f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 200, -2/3.

I'm not usually a huge fan of backlit birds but this shot has grown on me over the past few months. I cloned out one big ugly branch from the top of the frame and cropped out the rest of it. All comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome. Thanks for looking!

Laura Stiefel
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by Alan Murphy on Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:56 pm

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Laura,

One of my favorite Warblers. This is a fantastic shot, and a clean shot at that. Love the little perch. Love the BG. It looks a little light overall. The tail is almost lost to the BG. I played with it in curves, putting the dark eye dropper on the black in the eye and it gave it some great dept. I'm not crazy either about backlit photos, but this is sweet.

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by Ken Newcombe on Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:06 pm

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Laura,

A nice yellow bird, some increase in saturation may bring up the bird a notch. The BG color is nice perhaps cloning some brown BG around the tail would show the tail better, certainly a good shot.

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by Bill Whala on Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:10 pm

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Backlit birds are really nice when done right. This one is really nice.

The seedpod is a very nice touch that adds balance to the composition. I agree with Alan about the tail but that sounds like an easy fix.

This is really very sweet, Laura!!

Bill Whala

"Aves of similar plumage tend to converge with one another"

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by Greg Downing on Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:19 pm

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Laura, I think this is very well done. A tad darker would be nice. I think I would prefer the bird higher in the frame too, but very nice as is

Greg Downing
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by AlexC on Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:33 pm

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Much better than anything I have of these little morsels, and with a real perch to boot!! Congrats!!!

[b]Alex Calzadilla[/b]
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by Laura Stiefel on Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:36 pm

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I've tried adjusting the brightness by using the dark dropper in curves as Alan suggested. Does this version look any better? Thanks!

Laura Stiefel
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by Penney Goodwin on Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:44 pm

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Well, I think this is lovely - backlit, I like. and I do have to learn this "curves" thing. ..I like both, Laura, maybe the second a little better - but this is absolutely very sweet. Btw, I read about the "Blue Hole" in Castila ( sp) and I am definitely going to plan a trip up there. Fascinating!

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by Sheri Whala on Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:04 pm

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Very nice photo! I think your second post is a little better

Sheri Whala
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by Dennis Olivero on Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:16 pm

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Sweet shot, such a perfect background and perch!

[b]Dennis Olivero[/b]
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by LHays on Thu Oct 30, 2003 5:17 am

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Laura
I don't think that I could ever feel comfortable giving a nit to beautiful warbler. They elude....and confuse me. I have tried a couple of times to get some shots....and are they awful shots. You have done well with this one. I am definitely going to Magee Marsh this spring. Nice job!

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by Wayne Ellis on Thu Oct 30, 2003 6:00 am

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Hi Laura,

Well captured and a great looking bird.

Comments and reposts welcome

Wayne Ellis

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by Piotr Biegaj on Thu Oct 30, 2003 7:57 am

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Laura,
This is amasing photo !!!

piotr biegaj, iczek
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by Bruce DiVaccaro on Thu Oct 30, 2003 6:46 pm

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Laura,

Nice shot. Love the perch and background as well as the bird. This is different than the normal Magee shot and I think that is good.

Bruce DiVaccaro
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by Anthony Medici on Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:05 pm

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I like the second one better.

Tony

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by BrianS on Thu Oct 30, 2003 10:31 pm

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Second post does it for me. Nice.

[b]Brian Spangler[/b]
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by Brian L. Zwiebel on Fri Oct 31, 2003 5:39 am

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Hi Laura,

Glad I didn't miss this one. You did a fine job with the backlight. The re-post pops a bit more.

Where at Magee did you get this jem? This looks like maybe one of the marsh plants so I don't think it is from the boardwalk.

Does your camera data give a date? I usually only see one of these a spring at Magee, and I spend a lot of time out there! Just curious as to the date.

Thanks!

BZ

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by Laura Stiefel on Fri Oct 31, 2003 8:10 am

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Hi Brian,

This little guy was found on the boardwalk near the open space on the back side. ( I'm not sure how clear that description is). This was only the second time I had seen this species so I was tickled to pieces to actually get a shot at him.

My exif data shows this was shot on 5-1-03. I was also spending quite a bit of time out there this past Spring- just about every day after work!

Have a wonderful and productive trip!!!

Laura Stiefel
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