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Mountain Bluebird
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Mountain Bluebird

by David Haynes

Gallery: AvianPosted December 20, 2011590 views13 comments
D300s
600mm + 1.4TC
1/1250
F/8
Aperture Priority
Metering Mode Spot
Exposure Bias -1.00
ISO 500
White Balance Sunny
Distance 21.1 meters
Wimberly Head on tripod

We recently had a couple of windy days so I took the opportunity to go out and capture some Phoebes and Bluebirds flying into the wind. On windy days they tend to hover a little bit more than usual so I was able to get an in flight shot of a bird that I normally would not be able to capture. (Would love to tell you it was skill but this bird was barely moving) Anyway, I thought I would share with you. I hope everyone brings in the new year with happiness and great health. Merry Christmas.

Comments

13 comments
Comment posted by Scott Frye on December 21, 2011 at 6:04 AM
Very nice flight shot with a gorgeous background. I like wings down
Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 21, 2011 at 8:20 AM
I would give myself more credit David. Sounds like you spent a lot of time observing your subject, and anticipated this behavior well. I fully appreciate the degree of difficulty catching a small songbird inflight, so hat's off to ya.
Nice work & Merry Christmas to you also :wavey:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by John Robinson on December 21, 2011 at 9:05 AM
Excellent picture!
Good one.
JR
Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on December 21, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Wind or no wind, I'm sure this was not an easy image to make! Nice flight shot!
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 21, 2011 at 12:50 PM
A very pleasing image David. Love the BG color with the bird color. Bird is nice and sharp. Tough shot executed well.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by antino cervigni on December 21, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Excellent shot. Regards Antino
Registered on April 17, 2010, 70 Posts, 202 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 21, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Nice catch mid-air. Good color and detail.

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 21, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Impressive. I'd be very happy with something like this in my files.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 21, 2011 at 11:24 PM
Cool image, David. Nice work.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 22, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Great wing position and sharpness.I like the visible foot too.
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 22, 2011 at 10:17 PM
I like the down stroke capture here revealing the entire wing plumage. That, along with the soft background, really highlights the beauty of this bird. Hovering or not, this isn't an easy shot to make-very nicely done David. :toast:

Merry Christmas
Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 23, 2011 at 7:39 AM
I agree with Howard that you haven't given yourself enough credit here. Something this nice (and difficult) certainly involves significant skill, wind or not. Well done.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on December 25, 2011 at 12:58 PM
David,
Great shot. I love the way you capture birds in flight.
Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments