Eastern Bluebird

Gallery: AvianPosted June 11, 2017572 views7 comments

Sialia sialis

I usually try to keep man made objects out of my images, but I could not pass up this Eastern Bluebird on an old pasture gate. This is about 10 minutes before last light of the day.

Canon 1DX, 800mm f5.6L IS + 1.4 TC
1/640, f9.0, Aperture Priority, Partial Metering
ISO 800
June 9, 2017

Please view the larger image for detail.

All comments and critique are very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 11, 2017 at 7:13 PM

Good trick to get the bird to match a manmade perch. enlightened

Sweet light, a classic pose but, as you say, manmade perch that kind of dominates the shot. Maybe a vertical composition to reduce the rusty gate top?

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 11, 2017 at 7:37 PM

Not one I'd pass up either, Matt. The gate pipe does kind of dominate the scene and I wonder if it would work to reduce the saturation on it a bit or if that would end up looking too unnatural. Excellent pose and bg.

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

Comment posted by Shirley Freeman on June 11, 2017 at 8:28 PM

What sweet light on that beautiful bluebird, Matt. Excellent shot!

Registered on May 27, 2017, 77 Posts, 844 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on June 12, 2017 at 10:12 AM

Sometimes you just have to take what is given. That said, the rusty pipe is a pretty big eye catcher taking away from the nice blue bird. I wondered if just selectively desaturating the pipe would help. Here's a version with that done and just a touch more light on the bluebird. For me, it helps. See what you think.

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

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on June 12, 2017 at 10:18 AM

Sweet light and the bluebird shows beautiful colors and detail. I like the background and the foliage that frames the bluebird. You might tone down the red in the fence post.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on June 12, 2017 at 1:09 PM

Thanks for all of the comments.

I do like your version with the gate saturation lowered, Keith. But I think the bird lost a bit of the evening glow by lightening in. I think somewhere in between works. Thanks for the suggestions!!

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on June 12, 2017 at 3:04 PM

Ouch, wonderful light you had here - excellent ! The iron works very nicely with the bird and the surroundings and Keiths suggestion is a good one I'd say. I do not know if this is the full frame image, but otherwise you may consider to show more space below the iron bar - that could 'break' the dominance of the bar. But, I like it as presented. Cheers, Hans

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