The early bird catches all.
The Cedar Waxwing, a harbinger of Spring in the Midwest, feasts on the succulent berries of a crabapple tree.
The Cedar Waxwing, a harbinger of Spring in the Midwest, feasts on the succulent berries of a crabapple tree.
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May, 2016Views
7922
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 21
Editor's Choice
Runner Up in Our Natural World Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Our Natural World Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Featured
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 10
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
All Star
Genius
Virtuoso
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
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mosheharboun
June 22, 2016
AS I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT YOU ARE A TRUE ARTIST IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.HAVING SAID THAT, I WANT TO ADD THAT YOU ARE AN EXCEPTIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER.THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT WHEN THE FRUIT WOULD DROP INTO THE BIRD'S BEAK.
YOU ARE A TRUE MASTER.
YOU ARE A TRUE MASTER.
IlonaTongel
June 26, 2016
Amazing!!!! In the moment...I've been trying to get a photo like that for so long......Since I do not live in the country the trees on the street are pretty much blocked, so there is always branches in the way, never a real clear view...I only got it once Jan 1,2016 God gave me the gift of a flock of Hundreds up on tree branches...Just to see so many I was blessed.
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sharilee
June 24, 2018
Absolutely breathtaking. Would you mind telling me what kind of berries those are?
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I captured this photo early in the Spring, while sitting at my desk editing a portrait session. Once a year the Cedar waxwings flock to the Crabapple tree outside my window. I've learned to keep my camera on my desk next to me at all times.Time
I like to edit early in the morning when my mind and eyes are rested, so I'm guessing this photo was taken about 10:00a.m. The colorful and ever-changing scenes out the window always inspire me as I sit at my editing station. When a feathered friend comes to sit before me, I'm drawn into another world. When that happens, whatever I'm working on gets set aside. Editing can always wait for a few minutes more.Lighting
The morning was misty with a heavy cloud cover. The willows further beyond the crabapple tree were still wearing their golden winter coat. I've now shot the life in this tree in all seasons. Early to mid Spring is my favorite season to capture the life of this Crabapple because of the light and blending of colors.Equipment
I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark iii. The lens was my favorite 70-200mm f/2.8. Hand-held with no auxiliary lighting. The only light modifier: a less-than-crystal-clean window.Inspiration
I lived in Acapulco, Mexico for 25 years, with beautiful unobstructed views of the ocean and sunsets. When we relocated to the Midwest I yearned for those wide open views on a daily basis. I wanted to have the Crabapple tree outside our bedroom window removed so I could view the pond beyond, but being a nature lover, I couldn't easily bring myself to destroy the life of a tree or the habitat of birds and wildlife. Over the next few years, I observed the tree in all seasons. My vision as a photographer and as a human matured and I began to really see an abundance of amazing life before me. Sometimes I just hold my camera to my eye for long periods to closely observe the friends passing through.Editing
I did some fine-tuning global adjustments on this image and then took it into Photoshop for post-processing. I boosted the midtones and shadows using a Levels adjustment layers. I do some color correcting to warm the image, and spot saturation and sharpening bring focus to important parts of the image. I am a graphic designer also so color is very important to me in my images. Editing for me is like painting with light and color.In my camera bag
I like to travel light because I photograph a lot of moving subjects. Birds, animals and kids. I need to be able to cover a lot of territory in a short amount of time with my gear on me, so one of my best acquisitions has been the Think Tank Steroid Speed belt with modular components for holding the different lenses I use. I strap everything around my waist and go. My absolute favorite lens and the one that is on my camera 80% of the time is my Canon 70-200mmL IS II USM. The speed of this lens makes it the champion in my bag. Another favorite is my simple little 50mm f/1.4 prime lens by Canon. And my all-purpose 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM never stays home. I always have a fresh stash of doggie treats with me, and several show leads in different colors. I always have a duck call on me when shooting dogs. They're great for the "head tilt" pet photographers are always looking for.Feedback
I think our natural world invites us to stop what we're doing and be still. To photograph wildlife we need connection, and a fascination with that which is outside of ourselves. We need to put our cellphones aside and really observe an animal in his/her natural habitat, along with the light, color and textures that paint the backdrop. I take many shots, with my camera in high-speed continuous mode. And I always whisper a thank you to my subject when I'm finished.
