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My Blue Heaven
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vawendy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Spheres (Basic Editing)
Collection: 2010 challenges
Camera: Canon EOS-40D
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Date: Jul 13, 2010
Aperture: 5.7
ISO: 640
Shutter: 1/2000
Galleries: Food and Drink, Birds
Date Uploaded: Jul 13, 2010

 It took about 5 hours to get this shot. I tried for a couple of hours on Monday, but there wasn't enough light, and the shot was blurry. I thought I could fix it, but then I realized that I accidentally deleted the original file! :(

So I sat for 3 hours on Tuesday hoping that the mockingbird would come back for the blueberries. He came back 3 times in those 3 hours. He stayed for between 10 and 35 seconds each time. The first time, my camera wouldn't take the shot (I'm sending it back in today, for the fourth time in a year) :(

The second and third times he came, I was able to get off a couple of different shots.

I hope you like it!

[Jul. 20th, 2010 01:59:04 AM]

How exciting! I actually was at 7+ for awhile on the weekend, and then it dropped quite a chunk. Back up to 6.97 now. Don't think that it will end up above 7--still a little too far away, but it's been a thrilling ride!

I put the blueberries out on my deck, wondering what, if anything, would be interested in them. I had absolutely no idea! I was guessing that a couple of different birds would like them, but only the mockingbird did.

The light area at the bottom of the picture is where the shadowed area behind my deck opens up to the brighter wooded area. Cropping up looked strange, and with basic editing, there wasn't much more I could do.
_____________________

Thanks everyone!!

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 113
Avg (all users): 6.9272
Avg (commenters): 8.8235
Avg (participants): 6.7778
Avg (non-participants): 6.9803
Views since voting: 4658
Views during voting: 415
Votes: 206
Comments: 54
Favorites: 7 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/09/2011 10:24:17 PM
This is a very nice photo, good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2010 06:30:16 PM
Way to go Wendy.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2010 11:52:29 PM
Three cheers!!!
--Rick
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/25/2010 10:08:30 PM
Congrats on your ribbon! Beautiful image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/25/2010 04:37:40 PM
This looks SO much better with a Red ribbon, than with that Yellow one throwing the colors off. *grin*

Congrats on your tie!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/22/2010 01:11:01 AM
Congratulations, Wendy. Fantastic capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 11:32:35 PM
Congratulations on your ribbon! Beautiful capture! Up close and personal! The simple, black background makes the subjects pop! This took a lot of time and effort and you should be very proud! Making it a fav!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 06:18:50 PM
You're just hammering out those ribbons Wendy!!! Congrats on your ribbon. Your patience paid off!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 05:05:22 PM
This is a fantastic photo. I love it! Your patience paid off on this one!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 02:22:00 PM
Very nicely done! I am amazed by the detail and clarity of the image. Whomever voted 1 on this shot, should have their keyboard taken away. So should a few more that voted low also. After reading the story, this moves from a really good image, to an amazing capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 11:08:30 AM
Way To GO!!!!! Congrats!! I wish I could shoot birds like this!! awesome!~
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 10:36:16 AM
Beautiful image Wendy, well deserved Ribbon...you go girl!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 10:34:18 AM
Awesome shot. I was wondering if it was a pet bird for a while.
I'm tellin' ya you should tape an IR trigger to the camera and use that. Not for a pernament fixture, but to get shots you might otherwise miss.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 10:11:50 AM
I'm thinking you like to shoot birds..lol... Nice shot! ;-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 09:45:46 AM
Ive have shot wildlife a little to really appreciate an image like this. Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 08:52:42 AM
Congratulations vawendy - a great shot and the blueberry really sets it off.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 08:34:37 AM
Excellent shot, the detail is amazing..congrats on the ribbon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 07:42:16 AM
Fab entry Wendy. I didn't vote on enough of them to make my 9 count. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 07:20:16 AM
Excellent shot! Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 03:37:52 AM
I had a feeling this was yours Wendy! Huge congrats on the ribbon and great work with the capture. Ain't wildlife fun? :-0
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 02:40:29 AM
Wooohoootyhoohoo! Nice job, Wen!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 01:02:21 AM
Oh Wendy...the truth is no comment could possibly be more entertaining than our scores...right?!!! Congrats on an excellent image only outweighed by your inspiring enthusiasm and excellent timing to capture these moments!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:55:49 AM
girl, you never cease to amaze me:) amazing shot, as usual
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:48:34 AM
Throw one more ribbon on the stack! I don't know how you keep doing it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:48:04 AM
Awesome capture! congratulations on your ribbon! Instant Fav.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:35:52 AM
Wendy, WAY TO go! This is fabulous! So happy for your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:28:47 AM
You are amazing, Wendy.

When I think "sphere" nowhere in my mind comes up "bird with blueberry".

Lovely job of it all. Congrats on your patience and your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:23:08 AM
Patience is a virtue, Wendy ;-) Glad your patience paid off. Congrats on your ribbon and a wonderful image ((Hugs))
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:15:57 AM
Nice two ribbons for the team!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:14:07 AM
congrats on your ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:10:58 AM
really great work Wendy. Congrats on yellow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:05:08 AM
Rock on Wendy, another ribbon. Keep them coming :)

All the best to you and yours.

MAX!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2010 12:03:15 AM
Damn, Nice work, Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/20/2010 10:26:25 PM
Sharp and great details! But it doesn't really matter what I think, 'cause I'm not voting this challenge. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/20/2010 09:58:51 PM
I love this. Just a fantastic photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2010 11:37:41 PM
Stunning. Hoping this is a live bird and marking high. Hope I don't find out it was stuffed. Not sure what the yellow is at the bottom of the pic, at least on my monitor, but basic editing, so probably no choice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2010 07:42:52 PM
I love the idea here, and the colors are crisp and bright with the beautiful blue contrast. The bird has amazing detail as well. Great work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2010 06:58:16 PM
WOAH!!! This is really spectacular. What a perfect title!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/19/2010 03:09:32 AM
Nice texture and details.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/17/2010 09:21:32 AM
Oh look....it's a squished sphere...oh wait...no it isn't....it's smurfs big belly...but where did the rest of him go...oh nooooooooooo....poor little smurf....I think I can still see his bellybutton!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/17/2010 09:04:53 AM
What does the bird have? The top looks a bit flat?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/16/2010 09:56:58 PM
I am very partial to bird images; great one here; love the detail in the feathers.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/15/2010 08:31:51 PM
What a great shot. Just perfect for this challenge! a 9 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/15/2010 01:57:01 PM
What a sleek shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/15/2010 09:17:29 AM
wow, super sharp, exposure looks spot on too 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/15/2010 12:47:50 AM
very good! a winner...vote 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 11:51:36 PM
love the detail in his feathers. i can almost feel him exhaling at me to get away from his blueberry. 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 11:45:31 PM
Great capture.Good textures in the feathers and really nice lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 11:19:45 PM
Gorgeous. Incredible detail, even if the "sphere" is kinda squashed... Love the lighting. Front page.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 09:43:21 PM
Well framed and a great close up. Top marks!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 07:06:50 PM
Gorgeous photo!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 12:49:31 PM
This is gorgeous! Excellent clarity.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 11:40:06 AM
Wow..has blue written all over it. Nice shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/14/2010 01:01:57 AM
This has all the signs of being a ' . substr('//www.dpchallenge.com/images/user_icon/21_F.gif', strrpos('//www.dpchallenge.com/images/user_icon/21_F.gif', '/') + 1) . ' VaWendy entry.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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