Though I’ve never announced it publicly on my blog I occasionally use Saturday morning’s post as a testing ground for images that I like personally but are just a little bit different from my usual fare. My intent is to see how well they’re received. Sometimes most folks like them and other times they don’t particularly. I’m perfectly ok with either reaction since my intention is to get honest feedback, either from comments or the lack thereof.
This is one of those images.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this adult male Mountain Bluebird about three weeks ago near the Montana/Idaho border. It was perched on a conifer in the morning sun with deeply shaded pines and firs in the background, conditions which made the greens in the background appear almost black.
Black or very dark backgrounds have lots of appeal for some but I tend to be wary of them because very often they’re artificially produced during processing (photoshopped) and not natural. This background was untouched during processing (other than moderate noise reduction due to the relatively high ISO), though I did selectively reduce some of the brights in the perch.
The bird is small in the frame and a little centered (a cropping decision I made to accommodate the perch and other branch) but the image still appeals to me, partly because it reminds me of that lovely morning with the crisp mountain air and the sounds of a variety of songbirds in the vicinity as they sang their little hearts out.
Perhaps you had to be there…
Ron
it is a beautiful image. Had I not known who had taken it, or had your explanation, my first reaction would have been to assume someone had photoshopped it to make it look more portrait like. It would have appealed to me less in that situation. Knowing it is pretty much “as taken” definitely enhances the image for me. I can feel that lovely early morning light.
I love the high contrasts of bright colours on black (or white). Do carry on in this direction when the opportunity presents itself.
Hi! Blue birds have all my life been a favorite of mine! I love this photo!!Bright colors and the background makes the bird
really the colors so bright! Have a great day!
This is a gorgeous photo. The only thing unfortunate about it is that I am looking at it in a brightly lit motel lobby, and my computer screen is very reflective, which makes it harder to properly appreciate the image. That aside, I think it’s gorgeous and a definite keeper. The colors and composition are really appealing to me.
Beautiful image. My first reaction was cool, very high shutter speed plus flash. But with morning sun, the result is very similar without the harshness. Well done!
Ron, in my opinion, you’ve struck gold twice with this one. First of all, you can’t go wrong with anything bluebird. They are darling, sweet and beautiful … whether east or west. Second, there’s nothing more dramatic and eye-candy-esque (?) than bright color on a black background. Well done, kid.
Great image, great color, great framing.
Well, I read your first paragraph about the image being a “testing ground” and prepared myself to read all about how you tweaked the image in Photoshop to create a dark background to enhance the blueness……..
Silly me.
The way I see it (which is what counts – for ME), I initially judge a photograph based on my past experience with similar subjects. If I’m familiar with the photographers work, my enjoyment of the image is influenced by how I’ve felt about that artists history. Knowing how you most often approach your art (and what YOU do IS art!), my enjoyment is further enhanced.
Since I’m primarily a birder who occasionally wields a camera, I love the photograph because I can “sense” the experience of observing a Mountain Bluebird. Your image evokes the scent of evergreen, the crispness of clean cool air, the stunning blue which can really only be accurately be reproduced in our mind’s eye, the feel of the early morning sun, the music of songbirds filling my ears.
I don’t know much about technology or photography – but I know what I like. This is it. Thank you, Ron.
I agree, sometimes a dark background doesn’t look right, but with the bird’s beautiful blue feathers, it is a nice contrast.
Fence sitting here (but hopefully not long enough to get splinters in my butt). I love the image, and the dark background makes the bird and its perch POP. I am very, very happy to see it – but as a general rule prefer softer backgrounds. But rules are made to be broken.
It’s exquisite, Ron. Thanks for treating us to this!
I like the pop of color. I agree if he were just a bit closer. I’m spoiled. I view your images on a 32″ screen because I use an old flat screen tv for my monitor. 😀 But the colors make this shot for me.
I wish he were a bit closer too, Arwen. That’s one of the challenges of bird photography, even with a long lens like mine. Thank you.
Simple – gorgeous – natural. What’s not to like?
Thank you, Karen.
Ron. Who doesnt love a mountain bluebird? I think the Navajoes referred to them as a “piece of the sky”. The dark background gives the shot a portrait like quality and makes the bird POP. Nice. I was lucky to capture a gray jay in a similar setting at Crater Lake years ago. He was boldly begging for food at the time.
“A piece of the sky” is a great description for the male, Leslie. Love it.
I really enjoy the deep woods color. To my eye, makes the blue that much “bluer”. I considered a tall vertical cropping, to make an oriental scroll composition with the single bird against the negative space. Thank you so much for sharing so generously with us!
I considered the possibility of a vertical crop too, Mikal but I shot it horizontally and didn’t have enough of the tree in the frame to make it look good that way.
Beautiful shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Beautiful bird, brings back memories of seeing my life Mountain Bluebird in West Yellowstone back in the 1970’s!
Thanks for sharing.
You always seem to be able to remember where you got each life bird, Dick. Pretty impressive.
Beautiful photo of a beautiful bird. I actually like darker backgrounds. Certainly works well in your shot. Looks like he was posing for you! Keeps everything interesting by mixing up your shooting techniques. Another great shot.
“Keeps everything interesting by mixing up your shooting techniques.”
That’s something I have to constantly remind myself of, Ellen. I’m such a creature of habit in most aspects of my life that I have to remember that the inclination isn’t necessarily a good thing when it translates to my photography. Thank you.
Thank goodness for experimenting. It may be different from “your usual fare” Ron, but I think this image is beautiful. Perhaps a little more green in the background would be nice but then that may detract from the stunning pose and color of the bird. Overall, I give it a thumbs up. Quite lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Angela, I was actually a little surprised that there’s so little green back there since that was the predominant color. But the shade was so deep that it just didn’t show up. I could process it differently to make it so but that just isn’t my style. Thanks very much for you input.
A bluebird is a scene stealer no matter where he is! I think you have done a masterful job here although, personally, I find myself wanting to see him a bit larger. Could it be old age that wants everything larger? The technical details and the composition are impeccable!
I tend to have the same preference, Cheryl – for the bird to be relatively large in the frame. And as you say, that may be partly due to my deteriorating eyesight as I age. I’m a fan of fine detail and it’s just not there when the bird takes up so little of the image.
I think the bird is very pretty on the perch. I think I like seeing a bit more of the natural environment in the background. The blue does stand out very well and I like that as well but I miss seeing that bit of green that is really there. Everything else is fine. Love the pose on the perch.
Thanks Wendy. I appreciate your honest critique.
I really lile this photo. While most of you images are fantastic “nature-wildlife” images , I find this oje to be more “aetistic”
Thank you, Sonny. I agree with your assessment (which is why I said the image is a “little different from my usual fare”.
Ron, knowing your photos are never faked I can almost feel the air around the beautiful blue bird. Thanks for showing this image.
Thank you, Diana. I appreciate your confidence in the honesty of my images.