Photo
Jul, 2020Views
27
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Awards
Legendary Award
Summer 2020
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in my parents' back yard which has been featured in magazines.Time
I had just gotten my Canon 1DX Mark iii earlier in the morning and this was the first opportunity I had to try the new camera out and take some photos. My parents had recently attracted some beautiful bluebirds. I had about an hour to set up the camera and have fun with it. After I set it up, I set my sights on finding these wonderful birds in their yard. It was late afternoon when I luckily saw these flighty little birds. After a little bit, one of the bluebirds perched on the weather vane and posed for me. Boom! There was the shot! It was awesome. Nature is so unpredictable and that makes wildlife photography that much more rewarding to me.Lighting
Frankly, the lighting was not good. It was sunny and hot. But, for me, I like to shoot whenever I can, regardless of the light. You never know what moment you'll find and capture!Equipment
Camera: Canon 1DX Mark iii Lens: Canon 600mm f4 IS ii with Canon 1.4 TC iii Tripod: Gitzo Mountaineer 3530 with a Wimberley WH-200 GimbalInspiration
As a wildlife photographer, my inspiration is the wildlife itself. In regards to bluebirds, their color and confident stature intrigue me. I love the challenge of finding and then capturing these wonderful birds as they go about their daily lives.Editing
This photo went through mild Lightroom adjustments. I corrected the exposure and colors. I tend to use the standard "Vivid" preset often times to help the colors and contrast pop. I did adjust the exposure and highlights on the bird itself to help make it "pop" out of the picture. Lastly, a mild crop and vignette were applied to taste.In my camera bag
I tend to pack heavy because I drive my equipment. I use a Lowepro Pro Trekker 650 AW and it is packed full. I have a second bag, a Lowepro Dryzone 200 that holds my Canon 200-400 f4 1.4 TC and Sigma 120-300 f2.8 as well as additional cleaning gear.Feedback
My advice is to always capture the moment even if everything is against you. The lighting in this photo was poor. It was hot out so heat haze was an issue. But, I still continued to look for the moment and was able to capture this wonderful moment with a bluebird.
