Finally....

[John 2]

I have been trying to get some decent shots of Pheasants at this time of year for some time. Their colours are at their best in the Spring. I find it frustratingly difficult because I am limited to a 300mm FL and they seem to know it. They are very aware of your approach but they don't fly off, they just move out of range and keep their distance. The first of these was luck. I caught the bird up against a hedgerow. I quite like the shot because as it turned this way and that looking for a bolt hole, it left a nice curve in its tail and I think it helps the comp. The second was taken through a hole in the hedge but the bird clearly knows I'm there.

Nikon D7100
70-300mm Nikkor
ISO 200

1/200th Sec @ f5.6 @70mm


1/500th Sec @ f5.6 @200mm

[Downrigger]

Very, very nice, John, these are just great - wonderfully attired warm-hued pheasants in lovely cool spring greens. I like the results of the relatively wide aperture too. Your subjects are sharp and captured in showy poses. I agree the first is perhaps nicest - busy setting a little distracting but part of the "story", really, these aren't lightbox subjects.
I've sought such captures many hours without such nice results - lots of trudging around and almosts, followed by an encounter at the roadside on the drive home that scoots off before I rustle up my camera.

[Mike Buckley]

Both are nice but the first one is especially good because of the natural environment full of foliage, the clarity and the mid-tone contrast.

I had no idea pheasants can be so colorful. (I only know how they taste in a subtle mixture of herbs and cheese, wrapped in a slice of bacon and baked inside a puff pastry. Yummmmmm! Though rabbit is an even better substitute.)

[terrib]

These are both very nice. I agree that his posture helps the composition in the first. I also like the way the foliage wraps around him really setting off those nice colors. I can see why you've wanted to photograph these birds and your patience paid off! I would love to see one.

[Shadowman]

Very nice.

[MariaMaria]

Awesome shots! I LOVE the colors and I agree, the curve of the tail is very interesting and draws you more into the image. I just started using a D7100, nice to see what it (along with a great photographer) can do!

[Suzan J]

Hello John: The colours of this bird are amazing and are nicely framed by the lovely green foliage. I also like to shoot birds and wildlife, but I am limited by my 55 to 300 mm lens. Sneaking up on critters is quite difficult and requires a ton of patience. Just how close to this bird were you able to get?

[FrankMi]

Two really great captures John! If you do post processing, I would tone down the noisy background just a bit in the first one and clone out the log in the second.

[IzzieK]

#1 is too busy John, but beautiful....these birds are fat enough to put in the oven. I'll keep the feathers...

I love the way you did these shots...one thing compensate to the other....#2 even have a nice bokeh...both great shots.

[Benjy]

Two good shots John,well done....

[Kyle]

Looks like you did get some good shots. Both are great.

[John 2]

Thanks all for some great comments.

Mike, the colour is down to the time of year. When the juices are flowing (and I don't mean in the pan), they are at their best.

Maria, good luck with your D7100. For most shots at about ISO 1000 and below, with some careful PP, it has started to give me enough quality to stop me lusting after a FF camera.

Suzan, the first was about 10meters away. I stopped the car and used the window to support the camera. The second was about 50 meters away.

Frank/Izzie, I did try both of your suggestions en route to the final images. Blurring the BG clearly doesn't look natural in the first so I tried to desaturate it slightly but in the end, I preferred it as is. The trouble is that I enter the occasional competition and the rules around the nature categories preclude any invasive PP. The second just needed the log for context. Cloning it was my first instinct but in the end I left there.

[Mike Buckley]

When the juices are flowing (and I don't mean in the pan), they are at their best.

Actually, the main criticism of pheasant in the pan is that it's dry. That explains why almost all recipes of pheasant breast include wrapping them in bacon.

Maria, good luck with your D7100. For most shots at about ISO 1000 and below, with some careful PP, it has started to give me enough quality to stop me lusting after a FF camera.

I have no issues with going up to ISO 6400 on my D7000 or D5100 (both have the same sensor model). The noise is unobtrusive or non-existent if I get the exposure right.

[John 2]

Mike, I was enjoying just that with a glass of Rioja last Sunday for lunch with friends and trying (not too hard) not to think about where it came from.

[Wavelength]

Both are great images; yet i vote for #2 for its smooth background

[bnnrcn]

Hi John, nice shots, I like the composition in #1 more

[John 2]

Thanks Nandakumar, thanks Binnur.