Blue bird

© Susan K. Snow

Blue bird

Uploaded: August 08, 2010 11:42:43

Description

Resting before moving on during his migratory trip through Louisiana for the northern range.

I used masking and blending techniques learned from both Doug Steakley and Lewis Kemper to lighten the shadows and darken the highlights through both dodging, burning, and the gradient tool. I'm trying to sort out and clarify that which confused me in class.

Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/2000 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 1600, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 420.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 20D

Comments

Nikki McDonald level-classic August 09, 2010

Well I think you've done an excellent job here, Bunny -- the detail is very nice and the lighting looks even to me. Such a pretty little bird. #1296340

Susan K. Snow August 09, 2010

Thank you, Nikki. I used the Basic Masking techniques learned from Doug and the burn and dodge taught by Lewis Kemper via his DVD, which I bought while trying to understand in class. Well done DVD's make learning so much easier, especially when one cannot spend long hours sitting at the computer. Lewis' teaching of the gradient tool was remarkable for blending overly or under exposed areas!

The blue bird is a pretty bird. He looks to me like an off course Mountain Bluebird, as I live in southern Louisiana and I had never seen them here before. #8816104

Donna La Mattino Pagakis September 02, 2010

Super details, excellent clarity on this beautiful blue bird. This is a fav Bunny! #8878305

Susan K. Snow September 03, 2010

Thank you for your wonderful critique, Donna.
If I hadn't taken the class on Basic Masking from Doug Steakley or Lewis Kemper first classes on Toolkit #1, I would have had no idea how to get detail into this image which was slightly burned out on the whitest areas. But, they assistance made correction of this digital image possible.

Next January, I hope to take Lewis Kemper's class again to pick up what I previously missed and so that I can go on and learn more.

Thank you for your comments. #8879661

Jessica Jenney September 16, 2010

What a gorgeous capture, Bunny! Congratulations on your fabulous finalist! #8907901

Nikki McDonald level-classic September 16, 2010

Loved it when you posted it, still do, Bunny. This is a terrific capture and your processing is masterful. Congratulations on the finalist and good luck in the next round. #8909651

Bunny Snow September 16, 2010

Thank you Jessica, and Nikki for your comments on my finalist. I was so surprised and thrilled.

So many people received tons of finalists this month. Regardless of the reason, for the handing out of so many, I was thrilled to receive not only one but two...considering I only entered a few images.
#8910848

Amanda D. Austwick level-classic September 16, 2010

Congratulations Bunny on this exquisite bluebird photo!!! #8911144

Susan K. Snow September 16, 2010

Thank you, Amanda, for your wonderful comment. I'm just tickled to receive both your comment and the finalist! #8911212

Nancy (Peaches) Harker August 04, 2011

A very beautiful capture, congrats on your finalist win!!! #9582064

Leslie McLain level-classic August 31, 2011

Congrats on a beautiful finalist, Susan. #9644127

Songbird Cline level-classic November 16, 2011

Your comment on my image led me to look at your lovely gallery! This bird is gorgeous. #9809123

Susan K. Snow November 16, 2011

I guess it pays to comment. This bird was accomplished after taking Lewis Kemper's class, which taught me how to process the image. Because I learn slowly, I was unable to remember information in class. But, I kept trying over and over again until it clicked in my mind. Now I wonder what took me so long? (LOL!)

If you need to brush up on Photoshop, I strongly recommend his class and DVD's! They are wonderful!Q #9811005

Songbird Cline level-classic November 16, 2011

Yes, comments lead to meeting new people and getting to see new galleries! I just LOVE birds, and you have so many lovely images. I feel happy when I see the jays playing in the water and the pretty little birds in their beautiful plumage! You have so many lovely wildlife images! #9811021

Susan K. Snow November 16, 2011

Thank you for your kind words. I also love birds. After the coon kits left a couple years ago, I felt so sad, that I was looking for something else to expand what they taught me in capturing them. The coon kits are in my other gallery --
http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/default.phpx?id=93582&mp=V2 --
They were all trial and error. I had no idea how to capture coons, just like my knowledge of birds was zero. I simply tried different ISO's and found 1600 worked the best for me. Used the fastest shutter speed just in case I could capture someone in flight (I did not have space to pan). And then played with the light exposures. With the coon kits, I found if I metered off the vertical watering stand, which was aluminum, it would give me enough detail in the whites of their markings. I used an off camera flash to fill the shadows and was shooting on a tripod.

The same techniques worked with the birds. But the flash would only fire with one shot. That was a problem in low light conditions, but not with lots of light.

Jim Zuckerman gave me hints that really helped with the birds. And from then on it was just trial and error. I wanted to capture them doing something --not just sitting looking pretty. I wanted to capture bird behavior, and felt like I knew every bird.

My favorite blue jay was killed by a GOP grackle a couple years ago just after I captured him bathing. The grackles took revenge and severed his throat with their beaks. BJ often play to the camera. He would watch to see if I was focusing on him and then would go through his attics.

I miss him. #9811592


To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.


 

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.


 

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

BetterPhoto.com Photo Contest Finalist


Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Susan K. Snow.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.