Mountain Bluebird

Gallery: AvianPosted October 3, 2010212 views23 comments

This is from our trip to the San Rafael Swell in June. A pair of these bluebirds were feeding nestlings and often the meal was a cicada like this one. Interestingly they always removed the head before delivering to the chicks. Background is Entrada Sandstone.

7D, 1/250, f/9, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from tripod on 6/2/10, small exposure adjustment in ACR, cropped to 46% of original image, rotation to level the catchlight, lightened the cicada slightly, sharpened bird and prey, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light and setting, not baited or called in

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 3, 2010 at 5:28 PM

Just sweet - love the pop of blue against the bland background and how the twig is angling into the frame. Head turn is the only way it could be improved.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 3, 2010 at 5:46 PM

Really nice comp here Ron. I love the DOF. Bird stands out from BG really well. Detail and prey really add. In larger image view of head and prey just fine with me.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on October 3, 2010 at 6:32 PM

Wonderful image quality and detail Ron - love the cicada

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 3, 2010 at 7:09 PM

Hi Ron. You captured the blue of the bird perfectly. He really stands out against the pale background. Excellent detail, you can even see the "veins" in the wing of the prey. One of the things I love about nature photography is that you get to see and learn about interesting behaviour first hand - like the decapitation of prey in this example. Very cool photo Ron!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 3, 2010 at 7:15 PM

Very nice indeed Ron. The focus on head and prey is spot-on, and I like tones and smoothness of the background.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 3, 2010 at 7:19 PM

Nice shot Ron, like the compostion and colors. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 3, 2010 at 8:52 PM

Very nice image. Lovely natural color; excellent detail.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 3, 2010 at 10:23 PM

Great capture Ron. The bird stands out beautifully against the muted background.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 3, 2010 at 11:21 PM

Great pose, Ron. I like the clarity in the veining of the Cicada wing.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 4, 2010 at 8:20 AM

Ron,

It sure was great fun to watch this Bluebird with the cicadas and to see the chicks hidden on the ground. Beautiful image, great to have the prey in the bill, love the pose, light in the bird's eye, natural colors, sharpness and detail. I especially love the blues against the great tones of the Entrada Sandstone in the background.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 4, 2010 at 9:23 AM

Ron,
beautiful colors and detail here. The cicada in the beak is a bonus.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on October 4, 2010 at 11:27 AM

Top drawer image Ron, super smooth BG and the cicada is a real bonus. But if I was going to be very critical, I'd like to see the MB just a little higher in the frame, just a personal taste thing I guess, but no big deal.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 4, 2010 at 12:33 PM

Another nice photo from you, Ron!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 4, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Very sweet Ron, neat to get him with that cicada, more of a headturn would have been ideal but that's minor.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on October 4, 2010 at 5:21 PM

Great work here Ron. Wonderful timing, love the perch, details and vibrant colour.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Axel Hildebrandt on October 4, 2010 at 6:21 PM

Very nice capture both of you. I like the soft light and BG.

Registered on October 16, 2006, 66 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on October 5, 2010 at 12:42 PM

Super shot Ron!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on October 5, 2010 at 5:00 PM

Terrific, love the detail in the higher-res version, both the bird and the cicada. Gorgeous background really compliments the shot.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 5, 2010 at 5:40 PM

Wow Ron. Can't think of a single way to improve this other than a slight head turn toward you. Otherwise ...perfect as is. Really nice Ron.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 5, 2010 at 10:59 PM

Really nice! I like the detail in your cicada as much as the bird! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on October 8, 2010 at 4:04 PM

Love the inclusion of the bug, and as per usual Ron, the image quality is excellent

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 2, 2011 at 8:23 AM

Like the complimentary BG and comp Ron, nice detail.
I especially like the pose and your POV, the cicada's a large bonus here

Excellent gallery of images BTW

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on February 2, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Sweet image Ron

As said a abit more of a head turn would of been great, but hey this is smashing as is.

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments