One landed on my lens!
I stood in the snow behind the tripod, so quietly that one bird landed on my lens! What joy. I couldn’t actually say we bonded, but I was thrilled. I’ve had birds land on my hat, but never one that I could see so closely.
- Featured in Alaska ~ Beyond Your Dreams – Thank you!
Shot in RAW. Slight curves adjustment, at the suggestion of Eivor. The snowfall made it necessary to bump up the ISO to 320. I tried ISO 640 at one point, but those looked a tad grainy.
This is a male Common Redpoll in today’s snowfall. Note snowflake on his back. Our area has so far eluded Mt. Redoubt’s harsh volcanic particles, although Alaska Airlines and FedEx had to suspend all flights in and out yesterday.
Nikon D200
Nikon 70-300mm 4.5-5.6G VR
300mm
f/5.6
1/1250
ISO 320
-0.33ev
manual exposure mode
Manfrotto tripod
One of the faster Redpolls:
Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints and Framed Prints
Al Bourassa
GREAT shot Jan. Glad to hear you are not getting covered in ash from the volcano… I’m just back from Pompeii…
Jan Timmons replied
That’s my image, too, Al. Covered and preserved in perpetuity by ash. We’re not that close to the volcano. Mostly a nuisance.
Alexanderargyll
great capture…...
Jan Timmons replied
Thanks, Alexander. Good to meet you. I’m touched by your story of recovery and will peruse your photos.
Bonnie T. Barry
OH, Jan, what a delightful story and image! I know the feeling of joy you must have experienced to have such a lovely little creature come so close. I love the way you captured him with his little red cap on his head and snow on his tiny back. Very endearing and heartwarming!
Jan Timmons replied
Thanks, Bonnie. But did you see DJ Lemay’s Male Redpoll? Unusual for them to fly that far south.
lefty1
wow, what a thrill, super shot Jan
Christopher E...
now that is totally awesome jan!! wow!! looks like you need a second camera to capture that, put new meaning on “watch the birdie”
this image rocks!! excellent detail and composition
George Swann
This is a wonderful Image Jan….also love your description, it is always nice to have a story about a shot!!
Eivor
How exciting to have a camera land on your lens! Do you shoot in RAW, Jan? Then you could probably brighten up the image a little. It looks a little dark on my screen.
Jan Timmons replied
Yes, I shoot in RAW. I’ll see what I can do with curves, and remove the As-Is text. Thanks.
Karen Betts
Beautiful image jan and love how you write why you took the image always adds something more. your bird images are wonderful you should see what a calander looks like. : )
Angel Perry
Incredible! Straight to the favs~
Jan Timmons replied
Thanks, Angel. And congratulations on the well-deserved sales of your works!
Joanne Bradley
Just beautiful Jan, I love your bird images! And this is another stunning example! Stay warm!
Carol Barona
Stunning! Instant FAV!
Jeff VanDyke
Beautiful shot!!!
constance42
beautiful shot
Veronica Schultz
Beautiful shot! Soooo cool that you had one land on your lens. That must have been awesome!
KatsEye
This is just gorgeous. I think you have the better of eyes. This is just amazingly beautiful.
dougie1
wonderful!
CraigsMom
Beautiful shot…it must have been a delight to have one land on your lens. I have had Chickadees land on me, but never one on my camera.
Mary-Ann
DJ LeMay
Awwww… How EXCITING, Jan!! I keep wondering if they’ll eat out of our hand. Beautiful capture!
Blair Wainman
What an awesome capture!! And how exciting to have one land on your camera lens!! Now that’s a macro experience!! Well done!!
solo75
What a great shot!!
Larry Trupp
Wonderful capture, that must have been exciting to have the redpoll land on your lens…nice work.
jeffrae
Gorgeous capture!
Jellybean720
How exciting is that … GREAT CAPTURE :))
PFrogg
excellant capture well done
Jan Timmons
Thank you all for sharing my fun today!
Victoria Sheldon
How wonderful. Beautiful Catch!!
Glenna Walker
Just so beautiful…I love the red color on it’s head…lovely shot!
Trevor Kersley
Great wildlife shot
Antanas
lovely capture
LumenLux
I like the composition/crop and the DOF provides just enough context. Good work.
Sharon Mau
I hope you are safe with the volcanic activity. Please let me know and provide updates!
This is a beautiful image Jan, I am sure with the curves adjustment setting the white balance removed some of the blue cast from the cold light, and the colours revealed are very pretty! They are darling birds. The snowflakes look so fresh on the branches!
Jan Timmons replied
The ash blew this way and it’s ugly grey all over the sky. Bretwood Higman shot this photo of the lightning from the previous eruption.
More high-res photos at Alaska Volcano Observatory.
Jan Timmons
Photo of ash cloud headed our way by Jaden Larsen.
KcranmerArt
Jan, this is really such a beautiful capture…I love the setting this bird is in and your focus is so flawless, bravo for a wonderful shot!
Tama Blough
Beautiful little bird! Nice shot.
Stephen Thomas
Great capture of this beautiful little bird!
Harry Oldmeadow
You have way more patience than I do — I’m glad it was rewarded with such an exquisite shot!
Jan Fijolek
Beautiful capture Jan, I like the dof and colours!
Steve Buffington
Amazing shot. I love the details of the branches with the snow, the color of the bird and your great DOF. Make one just stare.
rain-dogs
gorgeous shot love the snowflake mustve been a thrill for him to land on lens they say your at peace with nature when the bids dont notice you and if one drops his load on you its good luck….beautiful work cheers
Gavin Maginness
Spectacular work. You have done yourself proud with this capture ☼ ☼
Brian Carey
Lovely shot Jan and great story too!
DragonFlyer
wow – i had to scroll a LONG way to add my comment here! I love your shots of these beautiful little birds – the 2 you have here would make a lovely ‘paired’ submission to the ‘Sets of Two’ Group :)))
DragonFlyer
O – Jan – I forgot to add – I’ve been so mixed up lately with what’s been happening and what’s not on my overview page that I thought you WERE already on my watchlist – but that the page was ‘missing’ showing me your work as it’s missing showing me others’ too! I finally got around to checking my actual ‘watchlist’... :) K xx
SKNickel
Love the birds, the bird starting his flight is awesome, wonderful DOF on both Photo’s.
Jane Best
Beautiful. Excellent light and detail on the bird and I also like the detail on the snowflakes nearby. Excellent bokeh too.
Brendan Schoon
Beautifully captured!! Amazing detail and a perfect composition! Wonderfully done.
Brendan
Heloisa Castro
glorious capture
Yool
What a pretty little bird this is ….lovely shot!!!
Kate Eller
What a special shot Jan….and what a beautiful card it makes. You need to enter this in the new “Cards: Best of the Best” challenge.
Sandy Stewart
Lovely winter time capture of a Common Redpole! : )
Robert Elliott
beautiful capture Jan
reflector
A stunning little bird and an excellent Winter image ! Great work !
Jan Timmons replied
They’re cute little redheads, aren’t they?
GeorgieH
Oh how superb! What a beautiful place you live in, and how wonderfully you capture it!
Sharon Mau
Aloha Jan, I very much enjoyed reading your notes and updates on the volcanic activity. The images are amazing! How are things with Mount Redoubt now that you are entering summer? Congratulations on your wonderful feature in Alaska ~ Beyond Your Dreams
Jan Timmons replied
Thank you, Sharon. Mt. Redoubt continues to spew a bit, and I think that accounts for quite a percentage drop in cargo planes here. Apparently many chose to fly out of Seattle, just in case. Amazing how one aspect in nature (or the economy!) can affect so many other areas, eh?
Sharon Mau
‘Ae, it is so true. I do hope the drop in cargo plane activity does not affect the local economy too much. It is amazing the ripple effects, yes. I am happy you are doing well. You must be celebrating summer at last! :)
Rick & Deb Larson
Hi Jan, HUGE CONGRATS on your well deserved feature with this redpole capture!! WTG!! Take Care ~ Rick & Deb ~ :)
Gene Walls
Fantastic redpole shot, Jan! Wonderful photograph, by any measure!