Close Up Pictures: Titmice, Chickadees, Finches, Red Bellied Woodpecker

My opinion changed radically when I actually knew what I was talking about.  Humm..ever happened to you?  Years ago I appreciated bird photos but felt like “bird feeder photography” was like cheating.   I espoused photos of nature taken in the wild…yes, that was the real stuff.

Titmouse Dancing With the Stars...

Then I got good cameras and lenses and found that taking good in the field bird shots meant patience, good weather, good lighting and a truly cumbersome combination of circumstances coming together at the right time while I was there and alert  in a place harboring wildlife.  In other words, if you want to do that, get used to what it takes and treasure the fine “in the wild” photos you actually have.  Taking bird photos while they were closer at hand and yes, eating, was gaining appeal.  What is  good about these photos? First of all, it is a good way to fill photo time when going some miles to find the critters is not feasible.  Next,  these are fun to shoot and do provide a good look at the local birds.  These tiny creatures are definitely not easy to photograph and to have good close-ups is worth it.  Take a look and see what you think.

Seeing more than I would if I was a believer in Naturalism...

Instead of believing nature is nature and that is all there is, no supernatural, no creator, I choose to believe in Creator, the God who did bring all this into being.  Should I be one to care for the earth and its contents, living and otherwise?  Should I honestly believe when that God said this through David in the Psalms, that He meant it? 

Psalms 8, a psalm of David
³ When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet:
⁷ all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
⁸ the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Certainly other bible verses tell of mankind having dominion on the earth and over its creatures and a responsibility given with that position. It tells me,  even if we might not be able to catch them, the least we can do is care for them  and should not catch them in the first place, not without a truly valid reason...do not destroy them or our planet and its living things! Doesn't it make sense that a person who believes in this Creator God should respect and care for the earth.  Oh my, that is much responsibility and where to act and when not to act are tough questions to answer.  However, one who does destroy the earth and practices poor, wasteful and destructive stewardship is in my understanding clearly violating what Creator wants from mankind regarding our home.  Much begins with caring for each other, all created in the image of the Creator.

Now, on with the birds and their favorite and dependable place to find black oil sunflower seed...

A male Purple Finch with a mouthful of seed to shell.

Notice the low stance of the Red Bellied Woodpecker.  This is close to the surrface, just as if on a tree standing very close with tail as a support.  This is a female. The male has more red over the top of the head in the bright cap.

That is it for now...more birds from the photo files will be posted next unless something more pressing to publish comes up . Thanks for looking. Comment or contact as you wish. Contact with the text box and then we can email directly should you have a bird photo you would like to send to see here. (It must be your photo, not the © work of someone else.) God Bless.

Festival Photos in Surreal Edge Enhanced Style

Topaz Labs makes fine plug-ins for Photoshop and other photo editing software.The software used with easy discretion will help produce very nice photography which is realistic, pleasing to the eye and a joy to view. Of course, you must begin with a good photo in the first place.

Going into the more extreme end of the adjustment sliders are results like these, all readily controlled in several aspects of detail, color, clarity, etc. in global or local adjustments.  These images are playthings, surreal views. Considered overdone for normal photo editing, such digital manipulation takes images into a different realm.  As is, the photos enter a form of art and are not expected to be photos as such, more so posters and exaggerated detail, fun for the eye. 

Larger view is much better with these. Click image.

This was a a festival celebrating herbs, emphasis on lavender and everything made from and with it from lavender ice cream to more common but refreshing lavender soaps and lotions, oils and decorative craft work. The amount of foods cooked with lavender is surprising and most certainly taste is dependent on the strength of the herb in the mix...otherwise, it is like eating perfume and that is strange to my taste.   Aromas abounded at the festival in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the crowd was very good for a small city event. 

 Barbeque truck..no lavender in that.