Typically I don’t do portraits but in this case it seemed like a pretty darn good option.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning while I was photographing House Wrens in the mountains this Green-tailed Towhee appeared unexpectedly in a bush very close to me – the same bush the wrens like to hang out in. In fact he did it twice but both times much of his body was hidden by twigs and leaves. These towhees have been a favorite of mine for years but this year they’ve been elusive for me so having one tantalizingly close, twice, but mostly hidden was highly frustrating. I took some photos anyway.
I became even more frustrated when I looked at my images at home and realized how sharp and detailed ‘his’ head was so I opted to crop for a head shot, a portrait, and I like the results.. I’m a sucker for detail in my images and I think the detail in this photo is excellent. He’s so sharp I had to reduce the amount of sharpening I normally apply to my images during processing by 25%.
His head angle is just about ideal for a portrait and I love that I caught his red crown raised. I also like the context provided by the out of focus green leaves surrounding him and the clean background.
Portraits may or may not be your cup of tea but occasionally I like the variety.
Ron
PS – For those who may be curious, probably mostly pixel-peeping photographers, this version of the photo was cropped to 17.5% of the original image (3.5 MP out of 20 MP).
Ron, I love the portrait. Nice to see the birds up close and personal so to speak. Hope you are doing well and staying cool. Another hot June day for me. Need some rain.
It’s too hot here too, Trudy. Much too hot. Thank you.
MAGNIFICENT. And, as Laura would say, rather a lot of other superlatives.
Thanks, EC. Speaking of Laura, recently on Facebook I saw that she’d run out of gigabytes again so she’ll be offline until the first week of July. After that I believe she said that she’s going to use a different plan so it won’t happen again.
Thanks. I miss her comments. And feel for her. Failed attempts on our system yesterday chewed up humungous amounts of our ‘allowance’. I may be a bit absent by the end of the month too.
Ron,
Beautiful. I would love to see one of these guys. I know you are fond of them. Wasn’t it a college paper or something that originally captured your interest? A report you had to write? (As you mention, “Spark bird.”)
Best,
Stephen
Stephen, I took a college ornithology class at the U of U in 1968 or 69, 69 I think. My field study species was the Green-tailed Towhee. I spent many hours in the East Canyon area documenting (or attempting to document) numbers of towhees and their behaviors. They got me hooked on birds.
I was using a cheap pair of binoculars and the towhees seldom let me get close. Wish I’d had the lens back then that I have now!
The detail in this image is simply amazing—as is the subject. I fell in love with GTTs after frequent visits from a handsome fella to my mealworm feeder this winter—truly special birds with lots of personality and you’ve captured their essence in this portrait! ♥️
Chris, it would be a treat for me to see this species in winter. I never have and probably never will.
I enjoy portraits, especially when the subject is as engaging as this handsome charmer! You really nailed both the shot and the crop! A+ 🙂
Thanks, Marty. An A+ is always appreciated.
WOW! This is really fabulous. I can count his feathers. The crest makes the shot for me. This would be a great greeting card. What’s UP? lol
Arwen, I have another shot of him facing to our left. It’s pretty good but his crown isn’t raised so I chose this one.
What Arwen said ….simply gorgeous Ron!
Thanks, Kathleen.
“He” sat for you very nicely. Audobon would be envious.
He didn’t sit there for long, Kent. Either time.
Sensational shot Ron!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Beautiful portrait and beautiful bird. The colors and sharpness are remarkable and I think the eye really completes the picture. I have never seen a Green-tailed although we have Spotted everywhere.
Thanks, Everett. In my view having any kind of towhee “everywhere” is a good thing. A very good thing.
If there was an Avian Museum of Art this would be a worthy accession. Your tools, skills, and experience have produced a magnificently detailed subject, with, if I recall, very special meaning to the photographer.
Good memory, Lyle. Yup, Green-tailed Towhees were my spark bird, many years ago (1969 I believe).
There is nothing I can add! Pure perfection…the detail and coloring is astounding.😍
Thanks very much, Kathy.
I’ll SAY worthy of a portrait–this is a lot more than just “settling” for what you could get ! The texture of those feathers on his ruff and shoulders is just exquisite–they’re such spectacular birds in their whole physicality, that
it’s quite a coup to capture such beauty solely in a bust portrait–congrats !
Kris, it pleases me that you like the portrait, for some of the same reasons I do.
I don’t see no green tail! Nice shot. I am always appreciative of cooperation from birds, even if it is only partial.
Porcupine, we get a hint of that green on his wing but you’re right – his namesake tail is missing.
Nice! 🙂 Love the detail and the raised crown is a bonus! Making lemonade when handed lemons! 😉
Thank you, Judy.
A beautiful portrait! I’m sure “he” would be proud to hang it in his nest.
“I’m sure “he” would be proud to hang it in his nest”
Now THAT provides an image in my head. Thanks, Mark.
Lovely! Those miniature drinking-straw-like feathers are astounding! And the eye-contact is almost too real!
Thanks very much, Terri. In such a close view as this the eye contact you mention almost makes me think I’m looking into his ‘soul’, whatever that might be.