Morning Dove with Blue Highlights. I took this photograph with my Nikon Z5, F/6.3, 1/250s, ISO 400, and 300mm from about 15 feet away. So, I finally got one, for three years the birds outside of deck have been taunting me. When I’m on the deck with my camera not a bird within 50 yards, if I leave my camera in the house, the birds land on my railing. Apparently this dove did not get the e-mail. Landing on the railing and stayed for a few minutes. I live in a townhome complex, so the background on the original is other, out of focus houses. It took a lot of editing to get the background a uniform color, but the other houses were distracting. Please let me know if the background color looks off. That is not a typo above, I did shoot at 300mm. The other post edit change was the saturation setting on the dove, to bring out the blue in its features.’
8 comments posted
Angela Bonner
Typical of wildlife only being around and still when you do not have a camera with you!! Been there many a times!!
The dove has really posed for you and I like the way he is checking out you have his best side!!
I have had a play and brought out the shadows a bit to show more detail in his plumage.
See what you think. Posted: 07/02/2026 12:28:21
Kurt Reinhard
Thanks Angela. I will give your change a try as I do like that you were able to pull out a little more blue color. It is funny, and first glace these birds look to be just brown and black, but they are actually very colorful. Posted: 07/03/2026 01:16:14
Angela Bonner
Do not get them here in the UK!! Posted: 07/03/2026 13:16:09
Kurt Reinhard
Hi Angela. I brought out just a little shadow on this version, and it might be hard to tell, but not quite as much shadow as you did. It left the feathers a little darker but brought a little bit more blue. Thanks Posted: 07/03/2026 19:55:57
Rose Norman
Great capture - and it cooperated by posing for you.
There is a lot of detail in the feathers but as Angela suggested, a little more of the blue could be pulled out.
The background works well to make the bird stand out. Houses that were blurred would not work as well. Posted: 07/03/2026 17:08:08
Ellen Fisch
Sharp, detailed and wonderfully textural the dove is in portrait mode! I love its expression, too...you seem to have captured the personality of this dove. I agree with Angela, thinking that just a tweak would bring more life into the bird. Great shot! Posted: 07/03/2026 18:14:00
Doug Sampson
Three years of patient waiting paid off magnificently. This shows off the Morning Dove's subtle, understated beauty with elegance. You captured the feather detail with its scale-like pattern with remarkable crispness and tactile texture. The bird's alert, bright eye is tack sharp with natural catchlight. Bringing out the blue iridescence in the wings helps the image. I feel the neutral warm-tone background is harmonious with the dove's own coloring. It feels natural as an overcast-sky background. The removal of the houses must have been painstakingly hard to achieve the level you did.
I am happy to hear that I am not the only one to experience "If I only had my camera" moment. Your photo is worth every one of those three years of waiting to get this shot!
Posted: 07/10/2026 03:49:20
Jennifer Wu
A sharp, detailed shots. Good captured the dove expression.
Like Angela suggession '... brought out the shadows a bit to show more detail in his plumage.' Well done. Posted: 07/11/2026 18:43:06
