Backyard Bluebirds

stu2003

19 years ago

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Comments (18)

sarahbn
19 years ago
Very nice pictures ! The blue color almost looks painted. Sarah
bsondahl
19 years ago
Boy, those are fabulous. What kind of camera setup do you use?
Brad Sondahl

Here is a link that might be useful: my home page
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stu2003
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you!

Sarah, believe it or not, the blue has not been enhanced with any photo editing software - those pictures are just like they came off the camera. The blue on bluebirds in the sun is just stunning. The only correction I made was on the last picture - I took away the highlight on the male bluebird's back. He was so shiny and the sun reflecting on his feathers made a big white spot!

Brad, these were taken with an Olympus C-750 UZ - I like the camera, but of course I want MORE! I've enjoyed looking through your website - my sisters were born in a tiny town north of Seattle. I just don't think there's any prettier place than the Pacific Northwest, and your landscape photographs are wonderful!
bsondahl
19 years ago
You're very kind. I looked up your camera, and the 10X tele sounds great. I have a now aging Nikon Coolpix (the tele's starting to stick), so I think I'll have to replace it soon. I love the closeups I can get with it, but the 2X telephoto has left mostly flowers for the wildlife to photograph. But I like flowers anyway... So much of nature photography is having a nice bit of nature nearby to photograph, as in your backyard bluebirds... I've been known to touch up some of those whiteouts myself.
Brad
JoanMN
19 years ago
Absolutely gorgeous pictures!
cindydj
19 years ago
Oh I love your bluebirds photos they are georgeous!
ltcollins1949
19 years ago
Those are awesome pictures! Incredible! Did you post them on the bird forum? If not, go ahead and do so, because they are great.
griffin_MD
19 years ago
Wow, Stu, came here looking for Nina's llamas--didn't find them, but glad I came anyway. Your photos are fabulous, as always. I still think you have those birds trained. Blue is the most beautiful color in the world, especially when seen through your camera.
Kathy
Adgerlady
19 years ago
Breathtaking! I do believe you about the blue. I took a photo of an indigo bunting once and it was that intense without editing.
lorraine303
19 years ago
You have taken my breath away - they are gorgeous - thanks for sharing!
~ Lorraine
Pigsngoats
19 years ago
Beautiful shots! How are you fuzzing the backgroung? Are you doing it when you take the shot? (is it a feature I need to look for in a digital?) or are you doing it after the shot on the computer? If on the computer, how are you not losing any detail? Thanks for your help! PnG
dragonroost
19 years ago
It looks like the BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS has flown into your camera! What absolutely stunning photos. We don't see a lot of bluebirds where I live, but every once in a while, I see one. We have lots of colorful Buntings in the Spring. Keep posting beautiful photos.
buttterflyy
19 years ago
Incredible photos..All on this site have amazed me. My thought after seeing the bluebirds was I want to live THERE. When I checked to see whee you come from, its Florida. We live in Lakeland.. What area of Florida are you from? Hoping there is the chance of finding them here.
Thanks Linda
susanna
19 years ago
Beautiful, I love watching and feeding the birds! In our yard we have a lot of Morning Doves... they are so tame I can almost touch them ( But I never have my camera the right time). We also have , Blue Jays, Cardinals, Red Headed WoodPeckers, Robins , Mocking Birds , Finches and a lot I don't know .... You Have Great Pictures!Thanks for shareing them... I am going to have to get a copy of mine on here , It's not a close up though...
janie_may
19 years ago
BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Wow, believe it or not, I have these same photos on a calendar! ;) Thanks, Stu.....you da bomb with that camera!
sowngrow (8a)
19 years ago
Wow-those are really nice and vivid. I have that same camera.
I need to learn more about it's features. What setting did you use?
Robin
bultman
19 years ago
OH WOW! - those are stunning - the birds and the photos.

Bernadette
stu2003
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks very much, All.

PnG and Robin - I did no monkeying with the pictures on the computer other than to resize and to take out the sun reflection on one. The "fuzzing" of the background has to do with the zoom, I believe - the depth of field. I've always found taking photographs to be more of an intuitive thing with me, rather than being able to recite the technicalities! Hopefully one of the experts on here can explain what I can't. As to the settings, I usually take everything on the manual settings, adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and focus myself depending upon the conditions and what I'm trying to achieve. Again, it's really not a formula...at least not to me. The science of it sort of leaves me cold and confused!

Linda, I am in Jacksonville - but there are plenty of bluebirds in your area. The best thing to do is purchase a proper bluebird nesting box (you'll find all the specifics on the Bluebirding Forum with lots of wonderful folks that love to help you get it done right), mount it on a metal pole with a raccoon baffle, and I'd bet you'll be amazed at how fast you have some blue tenants checking out the facilities! Blues and other native cavity-nesters need all the help we can give them, since we are removing their habitat at an alarming rate. Good luck - I hope you give it a shot!

Smoochies, Kathy and Janie!