Stonechat (Saxicola Torqata)

[Jonathan Ashton]

• OM Digital Solutions OM-1
• OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5
• ƒ/4.5
• 400mm
• 1/800s
• ISO 1600
• Flash not fired
• Thu, 13 February 2025 9:21 AM
• DxO PureRAW 4

Female Stonechat, I captured this image amongst the sand dunes on the coast near to Liverpool.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hey Jon ... a real peach for me .
Lovely isolated cool little subject on a pleasing perch against this buttery BG ... oh so nice !!
Superb details and sharpness in the little critter .
Personally I would try to lighten the BG and/or give it a more " greenish " color .... to make the Stonechat pop even more !!!

TFS Andreas

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Cheers Andreas, glad you liked it.

 

[Gabriela Plesea]

Very pretty subject, lovely pose, nice details, great colours. Framing looks good.
I like the background too, smooth and no distractions, must be the sand dunes?
A neat image well captured and processed, enjoyed viewing!

Warmest regards,
Gabriela

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Thanks for your comments Andreas and Gabriela, every time I see stonechats I just can’t resist taking images.

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Jon, I've looked at this numerous times now.

Firstly, to me it's far better framed than your normal posting of yours, a nice amount of space and air and the subject is nicely balance. What I don't like is the heavy contrast casting a shadow over the whole image. Going for a far 'lighter' approach gives some sweet tones of light to the BKG generating with far more separation between the two. More detail then starts to show and bringing back some Sat/Vib into the chest adds that prominence that I feel is missing in the Stonechat, it all looks flat and one dimensional.

Adding some simple masks at the foot adds a bit more depth to the scene and likewise a tad of light from the top LHC, again IMHO adds interest.

It doesn't have to be Walt Disney in its colour just allow some of the original colours through, and let them be soft on this occasion, take each image on its own merits and don't be too formulaic in what you do.

TFS
Steve

 

[Brian Sump]

Jon, interesting one. Is there a story at all with this one being banded?

Very earthy tones in this one. Pretty good with the composition as it could be suited vertical or normal landscape. A touch higher in frame could help possibly.

The only points of critique for me are a) is there a slight halo around the head? Maybe a masking issue and b) I'd suggest giving a little radial lum gradient around the eye/face as the subject overall feels dark and it could draw attention.

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

• OM Digital Solutions OM-1
• OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5
• ƒ/4.5
• 400mm
• 1/800s
• ISO 1600
• Flash not fired
• Thu, 13 February 2025 9:21 AM
• DxO PureRAW 4

Steve thanks very much for the feedback and suggestions. I do many of the suggestions you mentioned but I have to agree I also can be a bit "standardised" at times as you suggest. Thanks for your email - much appreciated, I see what you mean.

Brian well spotted there may be a slight halo - not sure but it would not surprise me if there was one - a common fault of mine! There's more than one way to skin a cat so maybe I can do better. The band on the leg I am sure will tell a story to a ringer but I am afraid I personally do not know what it means other than where and when it was originally ringed.

I attach a repost based upon both of your suggestions:

 

[Brian Sump]

Better Jon!

 

[Steve Kaluski]

Steve thanks very much for the feedback and suggestions. I do many of the suggestions you mentioned but I have to agree I also can be a bit "standardised" at times as you suggest. Thanks for your email - much appreciated, I see what you mean.

No problem Jon, you could hopefully understand and see that it's sometimes a simple change, nothing drastic, or requiring massive amounts of layers, masks, Modes changes, Blend modes and obviously the Kitchen sink too for good measure Jon. It's a sweet image that just needs some very simple tweaks.