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Mountain Bluebird Male
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Mountain Bluebird Male

by Dan Harbour

Gallery: AvianPosted March 31, 2010465 views36 comments
I finally got some shots of the Male. He is in full breeding colors and he is magnificent. I have tried my best, but the photo hardly does him justice.
D90, 300f4, f9, 1/500, iso 400, -0.3 step, beanbag, natural light, cloudy afternoon.
Backyard blind, setup perch, background is a hay pasture, perch is a dried weed (specific id unknown).
Small crop, levels, curves, sharpening. Cloned out a piece of wire in LLC (from the setup perch).
All comments appreciated, Critique requested.

Comments

36 comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 31, 2010 at 8:35 PM
Your patience paid off! This is exceptional - great pose, great flower heads, geeat colors, head-turn and BG!
:toast:
Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 31, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Looks great Dan, tack sharp, nice perch, nice BG :toast:
Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Cordes on March 31, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Outstanding colors! I like the head angle and the killer BG. Perch is just right. It was nice of him to position himself in just the right place in the perch!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 451 Posts, 3366 Comments
Comment posted by denise ippolito on March 31, 2010 at 8:53 PM
Fantastic details and colors. I love the perch. Perfect pose. Congrats!!
Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on March 31, 2010 at 8:54 PM
I do agree outstanding!! Hard work does pay off! Your subject just pops out. :toast:
Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Gilham on March 31, 2010 at 9:02 PM
A very pleasing image Dan, well balanced comp and colors and great BG do the bird justice IMO. Your payience certainly paid off, I would be thrilled with this myself.
Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 31, 2010 at 9:15 PM
Gorgeous image - bird, pose, perch, background - all good.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 31, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Love this. He is beautiful and you have done an excellent job of presenting him.
Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on March 31, 2010 at 9:22 PM
Nice work Dan. Patience definitely paid off . I really like the perch you chose too.
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 31, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Bingo...you nailed this one! A very special photo! You are now dubbed the Mtn. BB King. Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 31, 2010 at 10:44 PM
wow Dan, what can I say--you've got the touch on these Mtn Blues. spectacular sharpness, great color, super perch, perfect bg, great DOF, and a pleasing comp. can't ask for much more than that!
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on March 31, 2010 at 10:58 PM
Not much for me to say!! :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments
Comment posted by mark cillo on March 31, 2010 at 11:29 PM
This is awesome! :wavey:
Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 31, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Very special shot Dan - goes very well with the two flight shots - all superb

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 1, 2010 at 12:07 AM
He looks pretty well suited to me, awesome portrait Dan!!!

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Mills on April 1, 2010 at 12:31 AM
Simply extraordinary in all aspects.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 6 Posts, 43 Comments
Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on April 1, 2010 at 12:42 AM
very nice work Dan
Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on April 1, 2010 at 7:22 AM
Awesome image!
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on April 1, 2010 at 7:26 AM
As goog as it gets! Terrific!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on April 1, 2010 at 7:52 AM
Wow, wow, and ummm, Wow! This is as good as it gets! your patience really paid off. Great background, pose and details. A real winner. :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on April 1, 2010 at 10:07 AM
Just got a chance to see this. Wonderful image. Big Congrats on this one. :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Mitch Moraski on April 1, 2010 at 10:19 AM
Hey Dan...how perfect can things get! This is just a fantastic photo. Love the color contrast between the bluebird and the BG. Image is simple, tack sharp in focus and the pose is...well perfect as well. Keep up the good work.
Registered on August 3, 2008, 105 Posts, 590 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 1, 2010 at 11:43 AM
A real eye catching image!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Roy Bailey on April 1, 2010 at 2:03 PM
Terrific work. Very natural looking sharpness here. :toast:
Registered on November 16, 2008, 24 Posts, 486 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on April 1, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Wonderful shot.

Congrats

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Chetan Rangaraj on April 1, 2010 at 5:11 PM
Absolutely tremendous! Perfect perch and background. Congrats on a stunning capture.
Registered on February 12, 2009, 17 Posts, 27 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 1, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Just gorgeous Dan :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 1, 2010 at 8:35 PM
Sweet!
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Moore on April 1, 2010 at 8:55 PM
Dan,
You and Nancy got two SUPER shots in a row here.WOW

Dan
Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments
Comment posted by Kirk Greene on April 1, 2010 at 10:34 PM
Absolutely stunning. The mtn bb series you have going is 1st rate! This male is spectacular. I can't imaging coming up with a better image but I'm sure you will have fun trying!! :toast: :jump: :toast:
Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Lotito on April 2, 2010 at 2:02 AM
Wonderful shot! :toast:
Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 2, 2010 at 8:14 AM
A real beauty Dan, great pose!
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 3, 2010 at 8:49 AM
A stunner Dan. I saw some of these beauties yesterday for the first time this season but couldn't get close and the setting was less than ideal.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 3, 2010 at 11:53 PM
This is just all around excellent, Dan. :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Nash on April 4, 2010 at 1:11 PM
FAB
Registered on December 29, 2005, 20 Posts, 24 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 4, 2010 at 11:17 PM
A real pleasure to view, just outstanding image, way to go.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments