Image captured in the back garden (our house is aptly called Swallows Barn.)
The image is cropped and I removed the telegraph wire from which it launched. I was in two minds about reducing some highlights but they are not blown in the raw file.
OM-1 150-400TC
ISO : 2000
Shooting Mode : Manual
Shutter : 1/4000 sec
F.No. : F4.5
Exposure compensation : 0.0 EV
Well captured Jon, not easy. Nicely detailed and good colours. I would have liked to see a better pose. I was photographing sand martins today, and the 'better' ones I think, was when the BG was anything other than the sky. They were flying just above reeds and because of that I didn't have to crop so much, leaving the bird small in frame, with a nice BG.
BTW if you are still going to that hide next month, there's a male Sparrowhawk coming in quite regular.
Thanks Geraqld glad you like it.
Will yes I am going - looking forward to it, Sparrowhawk would be good- just had a Peregrine over the back garden but I doubt I got a terribly good image - will check it out. Regarding pose maybe I was hasty - I think I have a better one.
Hi Jon ... you managed a very difficult subject to get it captured , so well done on that front .
Think you can get more from the swallow in terms of contrast / sharpness ... it does appear quite flat . At least I would try to push it more on the tonal front .
Colors matter of taste , think I would reduce the blues a touch and give the " orange throat " more prominence .
Not sure why you have chosen the central placement ???!!!