Dean Ginther
April 2026 - Road Runer
Original
About the Image(s)
We recently spent a few days at the Caprock Canyonn State Park in Northwest Texas. We went there mostly for the dark night sky, but there also were a variety of critters roaming around. I chased this Roadrunner around as it quickly moved over the ground and brush looking for something to eat. They eat a variety of things, including the occasional rattlesnake. That would be a good picture, but I didn't see anything that dramatic.
Taken with my Sony A7R5 with a 28-200 zoom; f8.0; 1.500; ISO 100. In post, a crop and a bit of darkening the background and sharpening.
8 comments posted
I do like your editing. I imagine those birds are that colour in order to help camouflage themselves. It would've been good to see more definition of the bird from the background Posted: 04/05/2026 05:22:41
Agreed; I did darken the background to provide more separation but too much and it starts looking fake. Posted: 04/05/2026 15:25:12
You have my admiration as I've tried to capture a roadrunner without success. They are fast! I like the slight blur of the moving leg. Posted: 04/06/2026 19:29:27
Thanks Cindy; they are fast. Posted: 04/06/2026 20:00:40
The Roadrunner is great and I appreciate the out of focus foot showing its movement. Its a pity about the background as it blends in too much. I guess this is its normal habitat. Maybe darkening will provide more contrast.
I would also eliminate the rocks in the top right corner by cloning or cropping (my choice). Posted: 04/14/2026 14:41:39
I would also eliminate the rocks in the top right corner by cloning or cropping (my choice). Posted: 04/14/2026 14:41:39
Thanks Mervyn. Those brown piles that look like rocks are not -- that park has lots of Bison. More environmental context :). Posted: 04/14/2026 14:51:06
I do enjoy the image but it is a shame that the birds camouflage is working so well. I wonder if there would be a way with the ai blur in combination with the changed contrast to make the subject stand out more. Posted: 04/14/2026 19:05:26
I think that is possible. Posted: 04/15/2026 00:06:03