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Bluebird Landing
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Bluebird Landing

by Dan Harbour

Gallery: AvianPosted February 14, 2011334 views35 comments
This is a photo I dug up from last spring. A female mountain bluebird on a spruce limb. This is a set up perch near a backyard blind.
I can't wait for spring, and the blubirds to return. They arrive in central Montana mid March.
Comments and critiques requested and appreciated. Larger version included.
D90, 300f4, iso 400, 1/1250, matrix metering -0.67, beanbag, natural light. A little cloning near the tip of the branch, selective sharpening, and noise reduction on the background. Flipped the image horizontally.

Comments

35 comments
Comment posted by Darren Colello on February 14, 2011 at 1:14 PM
Wow Dan, this is simply lovely in every regard. The pose, fine detail, colours and bg all sing superbly. Well done. :toast:
Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Huff on February 14, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Beautiful shot of this bluebird's takeoff. Nice detail in the bird and great exposure IMO. Great background also. I am also waiting for spring here in north Idaho. I would love to get a good shot of a bluebird.

Ron Huff
Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Walters on February 14, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Beautiful image! Great color and details. Really like the wings.
Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 14, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Wonderful composition and exquisite detail, Dan. Your Bluebird pictures are always an inspiration. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on February 14, 2011 at 2:46 PM
A great capture in every respect!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Maurizio De Vita on February 14, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Simple and elegant! I like the warm/cold color contrast between the spruce branch and the bird plumage.And like the diagonal movement from the right wing to the head, too. It stops there and keep my eye into the picture. Well done! :toast:
Registered on August 26, 2008, 11 Posts, 66 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Marquart on February 14, 2011 at 3:06 PM
Beautiful image and pose, great sharpness and detail. I'm wondering what the background is, it looks so smooth it appears artificial. :toast:
Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Harbour on February 14, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Gary, the background is a pasture, after the snow has melted, but before it started to green up. The bird was close, perhaps 15 feet, and the pasture was about 100 yards away, causing it to blur smoothly.
Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 14, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Wonderful shot, great pose and fine details- also exposure, BG and DOP couldn't be better than this- a superb image, Fabio
Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments
Comment posted by mark cillo on February 14, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Beautiful image! Really lie the BG and wing spread :wavey:
Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 14, 2011 at 4:16 PM
A beauty Dan!
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Oscar Dewhurst on February 14, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Fantastic moment caught :toast: :toast:

Oscar :wavey:
Registered on August 6, 2009, 85 Posts, 502 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on February 14, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Don't think it can get any better than this. Very nicely done, Dan.
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on February 14, 2011 at 4:46 PM
I just this one Dan!! Lovely perch and BG with stunning subject! Well done!
Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on February 14, 2011 at 4:59 PM
Simply wonderful!

Congrats

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 14, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Fantastic!! :toast:
Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 14, 2011 at 5:36 PM
Really nice Dan. Very sharp, with a nice BG and action. Well done.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on February 14, 2011 at 6:09 PM
Superb in all respects, Dan! Love the detail and especially the sweet light, and the perch is just as pretty as the subject. Fine work!
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on February 14, 2011 at 9:01 PM
Beautiful in all respect, composition perfect. :toast:
Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 14, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Bravo! :toast: :toast: Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by David Haynes on February 14, 2011 at 11:32 PM
Dan,
I can't believe you waited to post this phenominal image. What detail you've captured here. The perch is exceptional as is the background. The pine cones on the perch add a lot to this image. So does the wing position. Great capture Dan. Don't wait so long to share next time.
Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 15, 2011 at 3:28 AM
Stunning! The bird, pose, and perch are just perfect.
Not sure about the comp, though.. .. I think it needs a bit more room at the top. Surely you want this printed and on your wall? would, then, also benefit from more standard dimensions.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 15, 2011 at 3:56 AM
Fantastic IQ Dan

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Danny Laredo on February 15, 2011 at 6:55 AM
Stunnign pose perch and BG. :toast:
Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 15, 2011 at 8:01 AM
gorgeous, Dan--I love your bluebirds. great pose here and a perfect comp.
Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 15, 2011 at 8:48 AM
Wonderfully captured. You really have a nice spot for these guys!! :toast:
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Karen Summers on February 15, 2011 at 8:54 AM
This is a beauty love the spread wings and perch lovely detail
Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Willison on February 15, 2011 at 2:56 PM
Gotta add to this list of comments. Delightful.
Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 15, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Everything comes together on this, the larger image was a pleasure to view, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 15, 2011 at 8:04 PM
This such a stunning shot Dan, such wonderful detail and the bird is just amazing in it's pre-take off pose!
Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 15, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Hi Dan :wavey: And this was dug up from last spring :eek: :eek: :eek: You must have a gold mine at home :biggrin: I can just dream, about capturing a bluebird photo, marvelous as this . Perfect in every aspect :toast: :toast:
Albert Darmo. Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on February 17, 2011 at 6:23 PM
What a lovely image :smile:
I like the BG you have here.
Well done.

Geoff.
Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 21, 2011 at 1:32 PM
stunning
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on February 27, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Great feather detail, seperation from the background, colours, and awesome timing! Beautiful picture!
Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on February 27, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Oh my, this is wonderful! Like the perch, the bird and the action. All captured expertly. Congratulations on a beautiful image!
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments