July 6, 2013

why i do what i do.....


we have barn swallows that live in our barn. no we don't. we don't even have a barn...but i kind of wish we did. anyhow, we have barn swallows that live under our deck and every year we have multiple nests full of these gorgeous little loves. this past week the babies have been leaving the nest....slowly....and returning later at night for a little more tender loving care from mom and dad. the other night, this little one decided to make a pit stop on our deck railing and to say that mom and dad were not happy with him would be an understatement. to say that mom and dad were not happy with us when we went out to investigate would be a bigger understatement. if you don't know these birds, they literally dive bomb you in order to get you to move out of their way. it's hugely entertaining.

the photo below is sooc. it was late when i took it, dark actually, and i jumped my ISO up to 6400 which is something sweet my camera lets me do and only adds a tiny bit of noise to the photo. then, like i do with almost all of my photos, i took it into lightroom where i believe sometimes magic actually happens. so here you have the before and after of my photo and maybe if you've been contemplating learning lightroom, this will be the little push you need.


happy weekend everyone
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18 comments:

  1. I love it! I have a baby Mockingbird visiting me with his mother. Mockingbirds divebomb too. It is fun to see the babies leaving the nest and I have that to look forward to in Holland next week. Enno said our Koolmaises have made a nest again this year in our birdhouse. Yes, it's why we do what we do. Life's cherishable moments are our joy are for us to capture. xo Jenny

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  2. We've got a barn (and a shop) full of barn swallows- they are the noisiest birds I think I have ever heard...especially the babies. Nice shot!

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  3. So, you have deck swallows? Nice. And the editing very impressive. As far as lightroom, it seems I don't have the patience yet to work my photos before posting, most of them just get thrown up there on the blog as is, but the few times I do edit, it is worth the time. Someday. Your shot is great.

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  4. You transform things beautifully.

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  5. Wow- so much of a difference and yet its subtle too. Love your perspective...

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  6. We've got them over the kitchen slider and in the barn. They are such good parents! Ours don't dive bomb though, thankfully. They just sit up in the rafters and stare intently.

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  7. I love what you did with the little fella. Very pretty!

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  8. what a sweet little guy. we have them all over here in arkansas and i see them when i'm out walking our dog, but they've tried to dive bomb us. yet . . . ; )

    and lightroom. oh dear lord, it's my version of "call of duty" or any other xbox game my son and husband play together!

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  9. AnonymousJuly 06, 2013

    So sweet! And thank you for encouraging me to get Lightroom ages ago!

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  10. Deck swallows -- and of course they will pose for the woman who has a knack with bird photos! Lovely!

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  11. I think ALL of your photos are magical, this one included, so yes, I do need to learn Lightroom. Isn't it fun to watch the birds mature? And those dive bombers...!? My dog gets it every time.

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  12. Thanks for capturing a bird I have never seen still before! I love watching them swooping over and around the huge oak trees across the street in the evening, snatching mosquitoes (bless there little hearts!)

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  13. So very sweet. How wonderful to have them each year.

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  14. Love your work -- covet your talent! Yep. Sure do.

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  15. She's so sweet! We have some nesting under a nearby bridge and they weave and dive over the river. Watching them is so fun!

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  16. Sweet little bird.
    Nice shot.

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  17. oh my friend,

    I am still dinking around in PicMonkey !
    Beauty Bird

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**I love reading the comments you leave, as they make me feel like we're sitting in my kitchen, having a cup of tea, discussing life and wondering where all the time has gone ...beth