A cold eastern bluebird

Gallery: AvianPosted March 19, 2014122 views8 comments

I photographed this little bluebird at White Rock lake in Dallas. He was all fluffed up against the extreme cold temperatures (at least for Dallas)that we have had this winter. I have had several chances to shoot these little guys recently and they have become one of my favorite birds. I know there are cloning possibilities but I prefer to leave my photos as natural as possible.

D300s w/200-400/4 and TC14 HH
1/400 @ 5.6 ISO 800

Thanks for looking and any comments or critiques.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 19, 2014 at 2:41 PM

Nice detail, good exposure and nice color on the Bluebird. The basic comp works fine as well. As you noted, there are some issues in the BG. The curved reddish branch, vertical pole and twig right above his head are the three that tend to keep grabbing at my eye.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Alan LaFaver on March 19, 2014 at 3:03 PM

One of my favorite species of the moment.....

Unfortunately, background you had is distracting. Details and color on bird are nice.
I would find a way to brighten him up just a bit. Lighten shadows or increase exposure a little on him.
Pic looks a little grainy. Was it cropped a lot?

How do you like that 200-400 overall?

Registered on February 28, 2014, 18 Posts, 147 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 19, 2014 at 8:41 PM

Nice exposure and detail on the bird here Robert, he does look cold the bg is what it is, I would run some noise reduction on it though.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 19, 2014 at 11:18 PM

Delightful little bird - nice colours, natural habitat, sweet pose.
Lots of noise apparent in the larger version - some NR needed.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 20, 2014 at 12:42 PM

Good colors in the blue bird. I don't mind the twigs and such, but I wonder if you could have moved to the left to avoid the heavy darker line behind part of the bird? Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 20, 2014 at 12:52 PM

He's certainly a bright one, Robert, and I like the puffed up pose. I do wish you could have gotten a step or two to the left to get that big oof trunk out of the image.

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 20, 2014 at 5:32 PM

Wish you had a better background, the vertical tree (?) is fighting for attention - whereas the bird should deserve it all, since it's a beauty - and nicely detailed and sharp ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 22, 2014 at 8:08 AM

Good looking little feather ball Robert, like the 'puffed up' look as it tries to conserve warmth.
Great details & color

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