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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Nine: Composition -- putting it together > At the block, Phoenix, Arizona, 2015
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06-JUL-2015

At the block, Phoenix, Arizona, 2015

I photographed these Rosy-Faced Lovebirds feeding at a block hanging in front of neighboring house. They are descended from Lovebirds originally imported from Africa by Phoenix pet dealers. There are now over 1,000 feral lovebirds in Phoenix. In this case, I allowed the feeding birds to compose the image for me. The pair of birds sitting at the time of the block were already in place, and so were the three birds clinging to its sides. I needed another bird in flight to enter the dark space at the bottom of the picture to bring action and bold new color into the image. I only had to wait for the right moment, and it happened. Its spreading wings contrast to the folded wings of the other birds, and the bold blue tail added a fourth vivid color to the composition.

FujiFilm X-T1
1/1000s f/6.7 at 230.0mm iso4000 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis23-Jul-2015 22:52
Thanks, Tim and Rose, for your thoughts. I did indeed built the image from bottom up, and yes, the leaf hanging on to the top border certainly is shaped like a cartoon caption. Only it is devoid of words, all which debunks the theory that parrots speak fluent English.
sunlightpix22-Jul-2015 21:38
Phil, your patience pays off handsomely with this colorful and animated composition. V
Tim May16-Jul-2015 17:03
it looks like the top bird has a thought bubble above its head- love the wings out on the bottom bird - the image seems to build from the top to the bottom
Phil Douglis10-Jul-2015 19:12
Glad you enjoy this image, Stephanie. The vivid colors of these birds work best when placed against a dark background such as this.
Stephanie09-Jul-2015 21:00
What a gorgeous image!!! I love lovebirds; especially my 2! :) V
Phil Douglis07-Jul-2015 19:05
Thanks, Carol. Interesting contrasts -- in Phoenix, such birds are an attraction, while in San Francisco, they are considered pests.
Carol E Sandgren07-Jul-2015 03:55
Lovely colors and balance here! These birds remind me of the parrots in San Francisco which are also feral, and ones that the city would like to get rid of.
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