Eastern Bluebird

[Steve S]

This is my first eastern bluebird. Tough one to get close to without spooking it.

[Peter Ryan]

I do like that Steve. The tones and textures right across the images work very well together.

[jiro]

What a nice little bird shot! Nice work, Steve.

[Steve S]

Thanks peter, what i like most is the curved limb it is sitting on.

Wish i could have cut the distance in half. Its kind of a heavy crop, but DXO saved the day again.

[Camellia]

He's lovely Steve. It's as if I could reach out and touch him.

I'm keen to learn how people take their bird photos so would you please share your setup info?

Thanks

R

[Steve S]

What a nice little bird shot! Nice work, Steve.

Thank you jiro, i've been after one of these for quite a while. They are very skittish. Because of their size you have to get close.

[Katy Noelle]

Beautiful!

[Peter Ryan]

Thanks peter, what i like most is the curved limb it is sitting on.

I did look at the limb within the overall composition and I agree with you. The other thing is when you cropped it you left the bird sitting rather high in the frame, which adds to his prominance and importance. Well done.

[Steve S]

He's lovely Steve. It's as if I could reach out and touch him.

I'm keen to learn how people take their bird photos so would you please share your setup info?

Thanks

R

I took this particular shot just walking through the park. I saw several bluebirds flying between the trees and a crab apple tree. I positioned myself between the two spots, placing the sun behind and to my right a little. I just waited around for a few min. to see what would happen. One of them landed right in front of me on the limb and gave me a few shots.

Here is the exif if that helps

Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/640Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F5.6
Metering Modes
Spot
Exposure Compensation
+2/3
ISO Speed
400
Lens
-
Focal Length
420.0 mm

I spot metered off the light blue and orange and set the exposure comp. to +2/3ev . The lighter colors are prob. only +1/3ev brighter than neutral, but i like to over expose just a touch and bring it back in post.

Camera and lens are a canon 40D w/ 300 f/4L + 1.4TC shot hand held . Almost all of my wildlife shots are hand held or with a monopod. It takes too long to set up a tripod.

hope this helps,

steve

[Steve S]

Beautiful!

Thank you katy, they are very pretty little birds.

[jeeperman]

Very nice.