Donald Miller
October 2026 - "Bluebird at sunset"
Original
About the Image(s)
Taken in the Suffield Wildlife Management Area - a protect grassland that boarders the south of Mass in Southwick and north of Conn. in Suffield.
There were many bluebirds there as well as insects for them to go after. This one was using the post as a launching area for hunting - so I could park myself and watch for good shots.
I was using the late day sun, about an hour before sunset, to silhouette the bird while getting the light through its wings. I was lucky it flew above the tree line into the clear spot!
I used an OM system OM-1 with OM 100-400mm, f5 - 6.3II at 400mm. Other settings were: 1/2000 for stopping the wing motion, f6.3 at ISO 800.
I've included the "before" shot showing how much I cropped.
3 comments posted
Donald,
The backlit wing is the image's strongest feature- with the light shining through the individual feathers you've created a striking silhouette. The subject's beautifully illuminated wing really stands out; the bird's placement is excellent and the blurred background works. There is a quiet, airy quality here that makes it more than a routine bird portrait.
To really get the full impact of the subject you might consider cropping substantially from the bottom and moderately from the top; vertical lines are eye-grabbers and the long post grabs the eye, as does the bright upper sky that occupies more space than necessary to tell your story.
See my Visual Feedback where I tried to bring more attention to your subject by eliminating that which I didn't think necessary to tell your story.
Posted: 10/06/2026 13:24:43
The backlit wing is the image's strongest feature- with the light shining through the individual feathers you've created a striking silhouette. The subject's beautifully illuminated wing really stands out; the bird's placement is excellent and the blurred background works. There is a quiet, airy quality here that makes it more than a routine bird portrait.
To really get the full impact of the subject you might consider cropping substantially from the bottom and moderately from the top; vertical lines are eye-grabbers and the long post grabs the eye, as does the bright upper sky that occupies more space than necessary to tell your story.
See my Visual Feedback where I tried to bring more attention to your subject by eliminating that which I didn't think necessary to tell your story.
Posted: 10/06/2026 13:24:43
Hi David,
After reading your description, I appreciate your photo much more because I understand what you were trying to accomplish. I like your plan, and observations regarding the blue bird--you positioned yourself in front of the post having figured out the birds perch there and used the late afternoon light to achieve a backlit image. You accomplished your goal, with a beautiful backlit raised wing on a silhouetted blue bird! My biggest concern is the post which dominates the image, and distracts from the bird which is small in the frame. I wouldn't take the post out because it tells the story but I do think Butch's tighter crop above helps fix this issue allowing the viewer to focus more on the beautiful translucent wing. Nicely done! Posted: 10/06/2026 16:36:01
After reading your description, I appreciate your photo much more because I understand what you were trying to accomplish. I like your plan, and observations regarding the blue bird--you positioned yourself in front of the post having figured out the birds perch there and used the late afternoon light to achieve a backlit image. You accomplished your goal, with a beautiful backlit raised wing on a silhouetted blue bird! My biggest concern is the post which dominates the image, and distracts from the bird which is small in the frame. I wouldn't take the post out because it tells the story but I do think Butch's tighter crop above helps fix this issue allowing the viewer to focus more on the beautiful translucent wing. Nicely done! Posted: 10/06/2026 16:36:01
This is a reply to Butch as well as Ann.
I can see your point that there is a LOT of post in the image. I liked the upward flow of the long movement up to the bird.
I've tried a bit of cropping to see how less post would look. It does look a bit more focused. Posted: 10/06/2026 16:49:13
I can see your point that there is a LOT of post in the image. I liked the upward flow of the long movement up to the bird.
I've tried a bit of cropping to see how less post would look. It does look a bit more focused. Posted: 10/06/2026 16:49:13