Warbler 2
Apr, 2014Views
666
Likes
Awards
Way To Go
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Peer Award
Exceptional Contrast
Great Find
Top Ranks
Top 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Premium
PRO
KathyHolliker
May 21, 2014
He doesn't look real. What an awesome shot. At first, I thought he was a rubber sucky!
Platinum
springbeauty
May 21, 2014
Thanks, it is real! Little buggar didn't sit still very much, I only got a couple decent shots out of 20++ before it flew away. The other shot is on my page also. It is a prothonotary warbler.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken from my front porch of my home here in beautiful eastern Kentucky, very near the Red River Gorge. There is a creek about 12 feet in front of my porch. I leave all the native plants to grow within the banks, for the wildlife and the visual beauty. It was fall, and many of the plants had lost their leaves but the stems were still standing. The warbler was visiting the different plant stems and eating the seeds still on the stalks.Time
This little Prothonotary warbler was flitting about the creek eating seeds early in the morning, the sun was up but not yet over the ridge top.Lighting
The lighting was just luck, I happened to step out on the porch to go take care of my morning chores and I saw the warbler. I went back inside to grab my camera and just hoped it was still nearby when I went back out. The warbler was definitely too far away to use the flash and I didn't dare step off the porch to try and get any closer!Equipment
I had a Nikon P520 at the time. The camera didn't have interchangeable lenses. I was in such a hurry I didn't even check the settings on my camera, it was zoom in and click! I had to use a post on the porch roof to steady the camera. Even if I had a tripod or any other equipment, I would not have had the time to gather and use it.Inspiration
This little bird was so bright and beautiful, and I was lucky enough to see it before I stepped off the porch and probably would have scared it away. I hadn't seen any of these birds here before, I had no idea what it was! I felt very blessed to have been able to get a photo of it. I've seen a couple since, but never in a place where I could get another photo.Editing
The only photo editor I have is the free Windows Live Photo Editor, and I did have the free Picasa editor before that. The only processing I can do with these programs is very basic. Contrast, light, some color adjustment and crop is about it. This makes me think very hard about the photos I take, since those basic edits are all I have.In my camera bag
At the time of this photo I only had my Nikon P520. I have no tripod or any other equipment. The one thing I always do carry is an extra battery and a lens cleaning cloth! I now have a Panasonic DMC-FZ70, another bridge DSLR. I wore my Nikon out!Feedback
The creek that runs through our front yard is full of native plants and flowers. I let them grow, and it has been a blessing to do so. While I could cut it all and make it look like a clean cut park, I prefer the beautiful native wildflowers, and the wildlife that comes with it. The creek is a haven for birds, butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies bees and many others that would not be there if it were clean cut. I not only provide a small refuge for wildlife, but a wonderful place to take some beautiful photos! I only have a short part of the creek on my property, but it is amazing. Sometimes you don't need to travel far away from home to get a beautiful photo, just a few steps off the front porch and there it is!
