Fatherhood is Hard Work

Gallery: AvianPosted August 17, 2015100 views9 comments

I posted a few images of this Western Bluebird when it hauling food for it's first brood (June 6-21st). We're not sure whether it's on brood 2 or brood 3 at this point, but all that effort is really starting to show. Still, I like the character it shows for much the same reason as I like portraits of people who have developed some character lines.

7Dii, Sigma 150-600mm contemporary at 562mm, hand held, f/8, 1/640, iso 640, aperture priority, pattern metering. Processed in LR5 & CS6. Processed the perch and bird on seperate layers and burned the brighter parts of the perch to reduce the glare. I realize the bird is rather centered, but I like the way the perch fills up the lower right corner, so it still works reasonably well to me-be interested in hearing how it looks to you. Cropped to 14.6MP. Taken August 15th at 7:06 pm in our back yard (they're still using the same box).

I appreciate all the comments on the Osprey and look forward to hearing from you on this one.

Thanks,

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on August 17, 2015 at 5:08 PM

Love the weather beaten perch Dennis and superb background too. (Birds good too !!!)

Cheers

John

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on August 17, 2015 at 5:39 PM

Fine detail in the large view. Nice perch and background.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Elizabeth Holbrook on August 17, 2015 at 9:47 PM

He looks a little tattered, Dennis. But his beautiful blues and rust colors are holding out against the background.

Registered on May 6, 2015, 43 Posts, 221 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 18, 2015 at 8:07 AM

I think the perch with its twists/turns adds well Dennis, & the comp works just fine IMHO.

Excellent post processing, excellent results! devil

Love the insect covered beak BTW laugh

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on August 18, 2015 at 6:22 PM

HI Dennis

He does look a little beetup. NIce work withe the seposer, detail and color.

Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 18, 2015 at 10:06 PM

Dennis, as far as I'm concerned, the photo is well balanced. Besides, as pooped as the bird looks, it probably couldn't make the end of the frame anyway! sad

Just curious—I've noticed a number of your postings with the Sigma lens are at 562mm. Any particular reason?

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on August 19, 2015 at 4:31 AM

I guess this is how I look most days now ! A couple of years ago we had a blue tit nest in the garden and by the time the young fledged there was very little feathers left on the female. Graham