Notes from the field :

While exploring some new areas around Fish Point, which extends into Saginaw Bay in Michigan, I encountered these song sparrows that were bringing insects back to a hidden nest. They continued with their daily feeding, ignoring me completely. The sun had just risen above the horizon and was basking this marsh area in warm, early morning light.

I started thinking about how I wanted to portray this scene. Certainly full frame bird images were possible, but they wouldn't really communicate much about the marsh, the light falling on the scene, or much about the bird's habitat. Instead I chose to keep the bird smaller in the frame, it being only a small element of the larger picture in front of me. I felt this created a better 'story-telling' image. It wouldn't have been possible if the light on the surrounding bullrushes was distracting.

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About the subject :

This particular image is appealing to us because the bird is depicted with its environment. It almost has a painting like feel to it due to the warm tone of the bird and the surrounding marsh rushes. With the insects in the bird's mouth, you get a glimpse into one moment of another busy morning of this sparrow feeding its young.

Some might like to see the bird larger in the frame, but the bird's size is intentional, to key the viewer in on the habitat, and to experiment with all the graphical lines.

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Technical details :

This image was made using a Nikon F5 and a 500 mm f4 lens, with a 1.4X teleconvertor, essentially making a 700 mm f5.6 lens. It was shot wide open, shutter speed unrecorded. Film was Fuji Provia F, which is excellent for its very fine grain and accurate color rendition. The benefit of the long lens for making this image was that I was able to photograph these sparrows without being too close to disturb them.

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About the composition :

1] Position of the bird is pointing into the frame and environment - you can imagine the bird making its way towards the nest

2] Framing by the bull rushes draws more attention to the bird

3] Insects in the bird's mouth is a bonus - adds interest, and tells a story - a bird feeding its young

4] The entire area was filled with early morning light, making for very pleasing, warm colors

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