Bluebird, I think...

[dizzy]

Hi all, first post here so thought I'd put one up from a trip to Grand Canyon. A few bluebirds (i'm reliably informed) came along and thankfully I'd just put the 70-200 on! The colours on the male were amazing, but I think this female was my favourite shot. Comments and criticism greatly appreciated. (posted a smaller image as I couldn't find anything saying what the limits were for image posting)

[A.M.D.A.]

Hi dizzy, and welcome to N&W!

Very nice shot, especially with that puffy-cloud-filled-sky. I also really like the eye catchlight.:thumbsup:
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If you "hotlink" a photo as here, you can post huge ones. But something 640x480 to 800x600 pixels should be best for optimum screen viewing. Posting an image by means of attaching (my preferred method) 800x800 pixels is maximum and with a file size of 293KB or smaller.

[dizzy]

Hi dizzy, and welcome to N&W!

Very nice shot, especially with that puffy-cloud-filled-sky. I also really like the eye catchlight.:thumbsup:
------------------------------------------
If you "hotlink" a photo as here, you can post huge ones. But something 640x480 to 800x600 pixels should be best for optimum screen viewing. Posting an image by means of attaching (my preferred method) 800x800 pixels is maximum and with a file size of 293KB or smaller.

Thanks, Alex, and thanks for the info about posting sizes for images :thumbsup:

[shootme]

Must be a female otherwise it would be blue? Males are generally the ones with the nice bright colors, funny how that changes when it comes to humans...Nice capture.

[dizzy]

Must be a female otherwise it would be blue? Males are generally the ones with the nice bright colors, funny how that changes when it comes to humans...Nice capture.

Thanks. Here's the male that was with her. He wouldn't sit up and pose as well as she did!

[A.M.D.A.]

Gorgeous!

That's a male western bluebird. ID'd by throat colour.

(Eastern has reddish throat).
(Mountain has light blue throat).

[OldClicker]

Nice. I've never seen the Western Blue Bird. - TF

[A.M.D.A.]

Nice. I've never seen the Western Blue Bird. - TF

Here's one I took a while back in Mexico... (though not as high-quality as dizzy's).

[shootme]

Dizzy, TF great shots and color, Dizzy I really like the bush/tree you have yours sitting on it adds another strong color. S

[paulnj]

Weatern bluebird ID by color intensity and location too.

[dizzy]

Thanks for the kind comments. I was so glad that I'd just put the 70-200 on when I spotted them. Would have been gutted to be looking at them with a 17-40!!

ps - would someone please explain 'TF'? new one on me!

[paulnj]

I do believe TF is oldclicker's initials ?

[dizzy]

lol, must have been having a blonde moment there! I'll get my coat...

[mizzogthegrizzog]

Hi Dizzy,
I recently made my first post here and was made most welcome, as indeed, you are!
I like both of these a lot!
With the male though, had you thought of cropping a bit off of the left and perhaps the bottom? Not enough to bring him into the centre, but just enough to lose some of the less focused greenery in the foreground?
See Ya!
Bren.

[dizzy]

Hi Dizzy,
I recently made my first post here and was made most welcome, as indeed, you are!
I like both of these a lot!
With the male though, had you thought of cropping a bit off of the left and perhaps the bottom? Not enough to bring him into the centre, but just enough to lose some of the less focused greenery in the foreground?
See Ya!
Bren.

Cheers Bren, Hadn't really had a good look at that one, but I'll have a look. I'm usually not a big fan of cropping too much, but as these were caught slightly on the hoof I might reconsider!

How's sunny dunstable? Use to race all round that area when I lived in Shefford. :thumbsup:

[Ron Kruger]

Nice shots, especially the first. Was it early or late light?

[dizzy]

Think it was morning. Taken from the edge of the Grand Canyon's South Rim at the end of November.

[Ron Kruger]

That's what I thought. The most dramatic shots I've taken were either during the first couple of hours of light, or the last hour of light, when the sun is angled and soft. I get better color saturation and contrast, too, especially when direct light is on my subject and not on the background, such as your shot. It isolates the subject even better than flash-fill. But I've also gotten some great effects with deer and such when the background was ablaze with morning glow. At these time, I use spot metering to get the subject perfectly exposed and let the background do whatever it wants.

[dizzy]

That's what I thought. The most dramatic shots I've taken were either during the first couple of hours of light, or the last hour of light, when the sun is angled and soft. I get better color saturation and contrast, too, especially when direct light is on my subject and not on the background, such as your shot. It isolates the subject even better than flash-fill. But I've also gotten some great effects with deer and such when the background was ablaze with morning glow. At these time, I use spot metering to get the subject perfectly exposed and let the background do whatever it wants.

Yep, sounds spot on to me. Nice bit of rim lighting through morning mist always looks fabulous, especially for larger animals. First few and last few (golden) hours are always my time of choice for landscapes as they usually have the nicest light and the lower level brings out the texture in the land :thumbsup:

[DickyCheung22]

Very nice capture! Nice work~

[mizzogthegrizzog]

Hi Dizzy,
Small world!
Sorry not to have replied sooner, but Christmas, a young daughter with her first camera etc.
I'm just about to post one of her first photos in this very forum. (Using my name, I hope no-one will mind.)