A beautiful male on a fresh green perch.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Without question this is my favorite Lazuli Bunting photo. It was taken in early June of 2010 on a camping trip to Utah’s spectacular San Rafael Swell (“The Swell”) and I posted it to my blog in October of 2013. This photo shows off the distinctive bicolored bill unusually well.
In the intervening years my processing skills and preferences have evolved so when I ran across that post last night I decided I wanted to reprocess the image for a different look. The original version was a little too dark and it had a vertical composition but this time I wanted to include more of the fresh springtime greasewood on the left, which was easier said than done. In most situations I prefer my images to have a 5×7 aspect ratio but the bunting is so large in the frame I didn’t have enough room on the left to do that without centering the bird too much. So, for this version I had to settle for a 4×5 aspect ratio and even then the bird is a little too centered but it did allow me to include more of the greasewood.
Compromise, it’s all about compromise, but I still like this version for a change.
In the spirit of full disclosure I’ll admit to having tweaked this image so it isn’t exactly the way it appeared in the field.
Here’s the image before the tweak but I won’t point out what I did. If you’re curious you’ll have to find it on your own, but it shouldn’t be hard to spot.
This is the area where I was camping when I photographed the bunting. This photo was taken on a mostly cloudy morning two days before I took the bunting photo.
The San Rafael Swell is one of Utah’s lesser known scenic and geologic gems. It’s a huge (300 sq miles) 40-60 million year old dome-shaped anticline of shale, sandstone and limestone that has been eroded into myriad canyons, valleys, gorges, buttes and mesas. Spring camping trips to this remote area are almost literally soul-restoring after a long, dreary winter.
It’s been way too long since I’ve been there.
Ron
Addendum: Apparently some folks who looked for the tweak couldn’t find it. Look beneath the tip of his tail in both versions of the photo.
I love the San Raphael Swell! We led a two week backpacking trip for a group of 12 there–from Oregon. Thanks for refreshing the memories.
What a geological unique area. Never knew it was in existence. Remote no crowds. Can anyone say roadtrip or bucketlist.
Wow. Such an amazing image. Frame-worthy! The tweak was worth it.
Glad you think so, Arwen. Thanks.
Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thank you, Charlotte.
Gorgeous bunting and environs, Ron. I’m terrible at those picture comparison puzzles, so I’ll skip the sleuthing today. 😉 I certainly hope this spunky little fellow is up on a wall somewhere. Here’s hoping you can get back out to a campsite before winter.
Thanks, Marty. Nope, I’ve never made a print of this photo. Maybe I should.
Definitely! There’s so much to like about it!
That bunting shot has an almost iconic feel to it. Marvelous colours in bird and bush. The landscape is almost moody and certainly would make anyone who viewed it want to experience the area for themselves. It’s easy to see why you like the area so much. Let’s hope it can retain the best in spite of the challenges.
The Swell has many challenges these days, Granny Pat. Including oil and gas development.
Oh my! Oh dear ! Oil and gas! That is so, so sad. I’m very sorry to hear it. It’s not surprising but it is still sad.
What a beautiful bird – in an amazing setting.
I do hope you can get back there again.
I hope so too, EC.
Beautiful photo of the bunting. I see the change. I hope you can make it back. It is one of my favorite areas and one I have plans to explore more. You know you have a friend there who’d love you to visit.
I’d love to go back, April. Many times.
The bird is glorious – perfect fit for a glorious landscape.
Thanks, Kathleen.
I wonder how ” The Swell” has changed since you were last there. The rock part ,probably ,not much but the green part , maybe a lot.
John, I think it’s changed in a couple of ways – not as green and more people than there used to be.
Beautiful and serene portrayal.
The greasewood is photogenic, too, tweaked or not.
I imagine WC could expound extensively on that stunning geology.
Thanks, Lyle. Up close I think greasewood can be beautiful in springtime.
What gorgeous colors and he looks quietly regal in his pose. It is a peaceful photo. Maybe your sense from the place spilled into the photo.
Who knows, maybe it did, Catharine.
Ron, studied both photos and other than a little bit of greaswood removed from the bottom I can’t spot anything different. Beautiful photo of a beautiful bird. I have only a couple photos of them here and none are anywhere near this good.
In your state I have only been to Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce. Is the Swell anywhere near one of these?
Everett, you can’t spot anything else different because there isn’t anything else different. Other than the tweak they’re identical.
The Swell is just north of the north end of Capitol Reef NP. Most of it is on the north side of I-70.
That is an amazing pic. I’ve never even heard of that bird. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks, Karen. Now you have!
Thank you, Ron. Such a fine photo of a beautiful bird! Have you ever considered making a bird book of your favorite photos?
Mary, lots of folks have suggested it but that would be work. And these days I’m lazy…
WoW… thank you, once again, for sharing your photos/information with us.
This series is the best start to my day. <3
Take care, CJ
Good to know, CJ. Thanks.
A beautiful bird, and an amazing shot. Nice job, the “tweak” just improves the composition without altering the subject. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you, Woody.
Oh ! My favorite bird– for his coloring, of course ! Lovely image, and the
“tweak” just simplifies the composition, accentuating the beautiful subject.
Thanks for the wakeup treat……
Glad you enjoyed it, Kris. Thanks.
Gorgeous! Well done.
Thanks, Michael.
It is a minor tho useful “tweak” – took a minute to spot…… 😉 Beautiful little bird in a beautiful setting. The Swell is certainly beautiful and brutal at the same time. 😉
Judy, as you know I don’t like to do tweaks like that but it doesn’t bother me too much if it’s only minor and I disclose what I’ve done.
A magnificent image of this species. When I saw my first one in New Mexico I was not into photography and it did not give me the opportunity to soak in its beauty as I can now. The landscape is so beautifully composed..
Kenneth, when I saw my first one it was long before I took up bird photography. I’ll never forget the experience.
omg I love the San Rafael swell… even just taking the overlooks from the freeway is an amazing experience, esp. at dawn.
Also, I just read a book a lot of your posse might like. It’s marketed to school-age children, but I think of it more as an art book. Birds and Their Feathers
by Britta Teckentrup
Thanks for the book tip, Cheryl.