Mountain Bluebird

Gallery: AvianPosted September 2, 201196 views8 comments

Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides

7D
500 f4 L IS +1.4x
Cypress Hills, Alberta

This was a set up that didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. Winds were approximately 100 kph (60 mph) the pine branch was attached to an old tripod but the wind prevented it from standing upright. The wind was so strong it blew over my blind so I shot this from my car. I would have preferred the bird higher in the frame but just below the perch was a barb wire fence and I wanted to keep it at a 2:3 aspect, this is full frame. There was nice light earlier but with the wind came the clouds. I placed the set up near the nestbox and getting him onto the perch was a task in it's self. All in all I am pleased with the outcome considering the conditions.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on September 2, 2011 at 8:19 PM

Darren,
Beautiful bird. You have a very nice perch, a good head turn, the exposure looks pretty good, and I like the composition. Only suggestion is that you might have over sharpened this a bit. Hard to tell with out a larger file. Considering the conditions you were facing I think this is really nice.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 2, 2011 at 8:31 PM

Despite the conditions this is classically good. Perch, pose and detail all look good.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 2, 2011 at 8:58 PM

A nice shot of this bluebird Darren. To me this is over-sharpened quite a bit. I also would prefer just a bit more room behind the bird and in front, but that is just my personal preference. I would def back off on the sharpening if this were mine.

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on September 2, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Beautiful colors and an excellent look at the overall bird. Sounds like a tough day. Seems over sharpened to me and I think I'd prefer a little more room on the left.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 3, 2011 at 12:40 AM

I like the perch and colors Darren. I echo the sharpness nits already mentioned and it feels a bit tight.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on September 3, 2011 at 1:23 AM

This is a really nice shot, but I think that you need to give him a little more room on the right. You do have some good detail in the feathers, and its nice to have a catchlight in there. Very nice perch, too.

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on September 4, 2011 at 7:16 PM

Excellent image Darren. Love the perch.
May

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on September 5, 2011 at 11:58 AM

Beautiful bird and perch, nice catchlight and nice pose. I agree about dialing back the sharpening. I am hoping to get some shots of these guys in a couple of weeks when I go to Yellowstone. Hope I can get one this good.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments