My wife and I stopped by one of our favorite local city parks this morning in search of some birds. We know this park well and know that it is not at all unusual for Chickadees, Titmice, and Nuthatches to come eat out of your hand and other birds (White Throat Sparrows, Cardinals and Jays) and bird wannabes (Squirrels) to come eat whatever seed is left on the ground or in case of conditions like we have now, on top of the snow.
The Chickadees, in particular, did not disappoint today. They were coming to my wife even before she was able to get the seeds out of the bag. I stood back and waiting for opportunities to get some decent images. They are fast little buggers, that much is for certain.
This first image is one that I have ended up naming “Gratitude”. There is just something about the look of the Chickadee that makes me think he is looking at my wife and saying “thank you” for bringing some seeds.
The second image immediately followed the first. Again I can’t help but think that after thanking my wife for bringing the seeds, he said “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take this one.”
A little further on in our walk, we found the White Throat Sparrows waiting for some seed to be placed on the snow so they could could also eat. Here is an image of the “Patient White Throat“.
All images were made with my Canon 50D and 300mm f/2.8L IS lens, handheld.
Really lovely bird shots. Are these images exactly as you took them or have you enhanced them in Photo Shop?
Adder’s Tongue grows along the Saucon Creek but in real life doesn’t look as sharp as your image.
Are you aware of this local photo blogger?
http://www.durhamtownship.com/
Check those out!!!! Fabulous!! And how fun would that be to have those little sweet birds eat from your hand! That first one especially looks like it is saying thank you to your wife!
And hey – I’ve missed you around here. I was getting worried about you and hoping all was well with you and your family! Glad you are back!
Ed… these are wonderful! So sharp and detailed… nice work for handholding the 300mm!
Susan, thanks for stopping by. First off, these bird images were made in Trexler Park in Allentown which is a great place to feed and photograph mostly common birds like Chickadees, Titmice, Cardinals, etc. Second these images have been slightly enhanced in Photoshop, specifically using Nik filters. I did a bit of noise reduction and sharpening on all three. I also used Nik Viveza primarity on the eyes to get them to pop a bit more. And finally I added the vignettes to the second and third images only because I find solid white backgrounds (snow in this case) to be a bit on the boring side. If I eliminated them, the backgrounds would look as in the first image, which I love even with the all white background. Oh, and yes I am familiar with the Durham website. Nice work there.
Stacey Dawn, I’ve been around. I think I suffer from a bit of seasonal affective disorder. This time of year I start feeling a bit depressed. Holidays are over and we are in the dog days of winter with just one snow storm after another. We’re expecting another possible 6″ tonight. I’m sick of the stuff. I’m also trying to come up with a way, short of robbing a bank. to come up with the necessary dollars to buy a new camera (Canon 5D Mark II). I’m trying to sell a mint condition Canon 400 mm f/5.6L lens that was my bird lens before buying the 300 2.8 with teleconverters that I used for these images. I am also trying to sell some top quality fly fishing reels and rods that I’m not using any longer. Not quite sure how I made that left turn from you comment but I’ll stop now.
Thanks, David. I was thinking about this yesterday. The images turned out quite good for handholding the 300 2.8 w/ a 2x TC. I think I am just getting better as an all-around nature photographer. That’s not meant to be patting myself on the back. But even with birds, which I basically gave up about a year ago because I just couldn’t get them right, I come around to go backgrounds, much better focus, sharper images, better images. And I am making many fewer images. Now I did dump a few in camera but I came home with around 30 images in total. I’m looking for and making the better shot, I guess.
Take care folks. I promise I’ll get around to all your sites sometime this week.
That first one is adorable!
B&H buys used equipment, maybe they will offer you a fair price for your lens? Might be worth contacting them, you can still say no if their offer is too low.
I like these images a lot! I especially like the catch light in the eyes. Great details. Beautiful colors. Nicely done. The vignetting in the third image is excellent–I like how it merges with the branch.
I’ve always found February the most difficult of the winter months. Years ago I started visiting family on the west coast during February, just to get away. On Friday I’m leaving for a 10 day visit with my one and only sister in Eugene, OR. Even if the weather there is dreary, it is a change of scene and my sister is a ray of sunshine. I also got away for a short trip to Maine in late December, and a short visit with a good friend in Boston in January. All these have helped.
I am, however, enjoying the snow! It has been a beautiful winter–better than those grey days we often have.
Now I’m very very jealous. These shots are wonderfully fantastico splendid Ed…. THis is just one of these moments of pleasure you will probably never forget…
These are great, but then your bird photos always are.
Well done Ed, the first and last being my favorites.
That is quite a set of photographs! I hope you were able to have them eat out of your hand as well. These are some of my favorites of yours… especially the last one.
I agree with other commenters – great work. To get this close, and use great technique, is really something. What I love about the images is the perfect sharpness of the feathers. I think this is something we don’t see in person because birds never sit still. Really makes you admire nature. And your photos! Superb.
As for buying and selling, http://www.fredmiranda.com can be pretty good. I picked up my 5D II there last summer for $2,300.
As for seasonal disorder, one of my friends spends the month of February in Hawaii. Same place, for 17 years. Nice plan.
Great images Ed. Amazing how they will come into your or her hand. Your processing is terrific!
Wonderful images, Ed! I love the last one – such great detail in all of them. What a gift to have birds land in your hand and let you photograph them in addition!
Those are all great shots! I like the Chickadee especially, but then it’s my favorite bird.