Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Photographing the Red-breasted Nuthatch

Is it just me, or are Red-breasted Nuthatches especially hard to photograph away from the feeder?

I usually get a lot of blurry shots because they move quickly in dense foliage and I'm still such a wimpy photographer that I rely on the auto-focus of my dSLR camera.
Sometimes I'll get a decent focus, but the lighting is all wrong. So often, these cute little nuthatches are buried in the shadows. I did get a little catch-light in the eye on the next photo though.
I liked this next pose too, but the lighting wasn't to my advantage.
But, it quickly turned around on the very same branch can caught some better light.
Red-breasted Nuthatch from the deck of our friends cabin in Round Valley, Idaho. Sept 2012

Interesting Fact: Despite the broad geographic range of the Red-breasted Nuthatch, no subspecies are recognized in North America. (BNA)

10 comments:

  1. photography is a challenge and I think bird photography is the most challenging because the subject matter can't be directed :). Your photos are delightful, and natural and a pleasure to see this lovely little bird

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    1. Thanks for the nice words Carole! "Natural" is a great perspective! Since they won't pose for me, "natural" is good! ;-)

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  2. They are amazing little birds, very fast and hard to shoot. I find that when trying to photograph birds in shadow it helps to overexpose by adding exposure compensation although you may pay for it by slower shutter speed

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    1. Yeah..you're getting too technical for me.. ;-)

      I love auto-focus when it works and curse it when it doesn't. Rather than whine, I need to learn how to use my camera better.

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  3. Red-breasted Nuthatches make me smile. They are such busy little birds with a very comical vocalization. I've always had a difficult time photographing Red-breasted Nuthatches. I have yet to get a shot I am satisfied with. Your photographs are wonderful!

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    1. They are definitely smile-makers. Thanks for the compliment, especially come from you and your amazing bird photography.

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  4. Oh yes, trying to get a clear shot of a nuthatch is quite the fete! I made several attempts of both the red and white-breasted nuthatches while living in S Dakota, and I don't think I ever quite got a totally clear photo of one. ARG!

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    1. That's the joy of birding and bird photography...we're always left wanting.

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  5. How wonderful that you even got to see one! They seem to be harder to find lately! I hope you are enjoying your new life in Idaho! (I'm still jealous that you get to live there!)

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    1. Red-breasted Nuthatches seem to be plentiful in the pines in Idaho. Have you noticed less of them where you have been? Idaho is a great place to live. But so is Arizona!

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