Something completely different this week, and if anyone has a moment to spare I would appreciate your thoughts.
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 1600
Golden-headed Cisticola were my nemesis bird for several years. Many times I’d be just a few metres from them but completely miss the shot, other times I’d go the the Werribee Treatment Plant especially hoping to see them but they’d stay hidden – though other people would miraculously find them. At the treatment plant this week they were ubiquitous.
Golden-headed Cisticola are small insect eaters that weigh only 10g and measure about 10g. During the breeding season the males become beautifully golden, and they raise the feathers on their heads and sing their socks off from vantage points on the tops of low bushes and reeds.
I’m not sure whether or not this image ‘works’, at first I thought it didn’t, then I thought it did and now I’m wavering. For disclosure, I have done a little cloning, which I don’t usually do, to remove some stray twigs and a shadow.
Happy birding
Kim
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Hey there’s something about this photo I really like even tho the bird looks a bit grumpy.
Haha, it really does look a bit grumpy, I hadn’t noticed that before
Thanks for sharing the shot- just lovely. What an amazing whimsical piece of creation this bird is. 10g! I like the simplicity in the shot- glad you took distractions out.
Thanks for explaining that you like the simplicity, Judy. They really are ‘whimsical pieces of creation’, what a beaut description
Great shot Kim. The bright spot behind works well and the bird is well positioned. What was the reason for high ISO though? Was it a very gloomy day?
Thanks Craig. I’m comfortable using ISO 1600 on the current bodies, it doesn’t seem to introduce too much noise, and I was wanting to keep the shutter speed high ready to capture interesting movement. For this image alone I could have easily dropped the ISO and the speed.
Such artistic composition. I love it!
That’s great Margot, thank you
Kim, this is a great photo of this lovely little bird. He looks a lot better in his breeding plumage, but they certainly are difficult to see, let alone photograph. They pop up for a look at you and then sink back into the grass before you can take their photo. My only photos go back to 2015, but I hope to see them again latter this year when I go on holidays up north. Here is a link to a photo of mine in breeding plumage – https://www.flickr.com/photos/nikoneil/35351564925/in/photolist-VRU1C6-UxRMES-VLM3kQ-Vyx46d-VDWgGy-V48Uey-VqHDsv-VqGpMr-V66VEd-U2kn3z-VcmgqW-U2iLXc-V1qs5q-UA9TDA-Ty7C8c-TptLz4-TTHULq-TvmPGm-TMixxD-TJA8Y9-TYnJ7p-T3dho9-T5BgsT-T2CytH-RVF5VN-SByupw-SzSdwA-RSM7nb-T5Eo11-T5qMaf-RSDJeB-T1Ryf1-Suyq1o-RMRJrN-RMBKy5-SZ1e51-SYGLRU-RNirQt-SY9yeH-SUiJxW-SLxmPR-RDAwSd-RDygNE-SShYq9-RDoQwA-SScxgw-RvskwG-SApZUD-SJ6Rid-SEYddc.
Your little guy looks super cute with its feathers blowing in the breeze. I really like the warmth of their colours and will keep hoping to get a ‘perfect’ image
It”s a cool shot and works well Kim 🙂
Thank you Bill 🙂
Bloody brilliant Kim, a top shot, especially when enlarged on a good monitor. (Seems some of your fans need an education in clicking on the pic)
Thanks Pauli. I needed educating too, I used to be able to click on the images then the function stopped working and I didn’t realise it had been re-enabled
I love this image it is very different with the light aspect being behind the little cutie. The composition is fantastic. Kerryn
Thanks Kerryn and thanks for explaining what you like about it
Love it
Aw, thanks Tamsin
I love the image – but would prefer to see it without the text running through it.
This is a bird I don’t know and as always I am awed and grateful.
Hi EC, I spoke with people about the text issue and they said that if that happens it can be solved by clicking on the image. That worked on an iPhone and on a vertical desktop screen; can you let me know if it works for you too? Thank you
It does work. After one of your commentators said I needed an education I did come back and click. And have been suitably educated.
Oh, I thought that comment related to clicking on the link when I put it on facebook – I must have read that comment before I spoke with people about the text issue, now I’ve been educated too
What a cutie.
They are really cute little birds, one of my favourites
Hi Kim,
I think it works. The composition is really nice, well balanced etc.
I assume you are worried about the bright egg shape in the background as conventional wisdom in the judging world is that one ought not have bright spots in an image as they draw the attention away from the main subject.
Bah humbug, I say. Just tell them that being egg shaped, the bright spot represents the arrival of a new generation and is an integral part of the composition.
That is exactly the reason I almost hit the delete button. When I was taking the shot the glare was horrendous but now I wish I’d taken more – something else to remember in case an opportunity like that turns up again. I like your metaphor, very creative
Beautiful little bird Kim, thankyou for brightening my Friday and I am so glad you finally got a pic of this otherwise elusive species. Have a lovely weekend.
Thank you Alison, it makes me happy to that this little bird brightened your Friday. I hope you had a lovely weekend too
Beautiful, just love it. A wonderful little bird.
Thank you Thomas, I’m glad you think that