Western BB, female - repost

Gallery: AvianPosted June 27, 201159 views6 comments

One of the only bird-in-flight photos I've ever gotten that I'd care to post and it is not up to the quality seen here all the time. This Bluebird female had been sitting high above the nest box with luch for 3 babies for awhile, and I happeneed to catch her dropping down for the delivery. Some cloning of distractions and selective sharpening.

Olympus E-5
70-300mm F4 @300mm
aperture priority
1/2500 sec F7.1 -1.0 EV
flash off
spot metering
ISO 500
manual focus
tripod

large view provided

Always appreciate your comments and critique

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 28, 2011 at 2:58 AM

Nice attempt Charlie. Capturing small BIF shots has to be one of, if not THE most challenging forms of bird photography, and it's the main one I'm always trying to get better at myself, so I appreciate the effort and what you've managed to achieve here with this one, keep up the good work :^)

While the blue of the sky is a wonderful tone, I'm thinking for a picture like this is appears a little too saturated, for my eye anyhow.

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 28, 2011 at 8:42 AM

Hi Charlie: As Ashley noted, small birds like this in flight are very tough. You did a nice job capturing this and with manual focus!! Great wing position. The image feels a little too dark. I think you could bring the overall image up just a bit and show more detail in the shadowed chest. It might also help with that electric blue sky that feels pretty saturated. Congrats on a flight image.. Careful..... you'll be hooked pretty soon

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on June 28, 2011 at 2:35 PM

I felt the sky was too saturated too. Here is an adjusted copy. I'm not so sure, overall, it is much better, but the sky is less blatant.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 28, 2011 at 9:03 PM

Nice job capturing the action here Charlie, love the wing spread. I'd try for this again when the light is a little bit softer.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on June 28, 2011 at 9:18 PM

You got a nice flight attempt here but I think the light was your biggest enemy as it seemed too harsh and backlit your bird making for some harsh shadows although I do like how it backlit the top wing. . The pose is cool and the frozen action great as well. Keep going for this one it will be worth it.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 28, 2011 at 9:24 PM

I know you must be excited to catch a bird in flight. Sometimes just waiting around for something to happen is very rewarding. Problems with saturation noted. Keep at it.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments