Ground Level Perspective from the Blind

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Ground Level Perspective from the Blind

February 6, 2012 by Andrew McLachlan

Blue Jay at rest on fresh fallen snow

When I set-up my songbird feeding station for winter songbird photography I also constructed an extension that a large section of a tree trunk is fastened to for photographing woodpeckers when they come in to feed on the suet I fastened to the back of the trunk, and out of view of the camera. I used a four foot length of 2 X 4 to construct this extension. This 2 X 4 has become a very important part of my set-up, because after a fresh snowfall it allows me to capture ‘ground-level’ images of the birds that choose to sit on the snow covered 2 X 4 while waiting their turn at the feeder. The resulting images look as though I was laying down in the snow when I was actually toasty warm, while sitting in my heated blind with a fresh brewed cup of coffee. Here are two of my favorite Blue Jay images from this year so far. They were photographed on a bitter cold morning at -20 Celsius. The Blue Jay is all fluffed up while trying to stay warm on this bitter day.

Blue Jay in winter

9 Responses

on February 6, 2012 at 9:13 pm | Reply Sandy

Sweet, sweet, sweet! They look so pretty all fluffed up like that. Just perfect photography.

No one could ever imagine how intelligent the Blue Jays are. I still laugh when I think of the one in captive that could make a ring exactly like the telephone 🙂

We happened to catch a movie the other night called “The Big Year” and it’s all about birding. It was an excellent movie and we don’t care what the reviews are, we gave it a big 10 stars! Don’t miss seeing it if you haven’t already!!
- on February 7, 2012 at 7:18 pm | Reply andrewmclachlan
  
  Thanks a bunch for the kind words Sandy. I often hear the Blue Jays around here mimic the call of Red-tailed Hawks.:)
on February 6, 2012 at 9:25 pm | Reply a creative adventure/denise ippolito

Very nice Andrew. I love the first one. Thanks for the how-to and it’s nice to know your not freezing to death creating these images.
- on February 7, 2012 at 7:21 pm | Reply andrewmclachlan
  
  Much thanks Denise, I love the stare of the first one…looks like it has attitude. Lately it has been hard to freeze up here, yesterday was +8 Celsius and the snow is gone again…what a crazy winter 🙂
on February 7, 2012 at 11:47 am | Reply Michael A. De Martino

Hi Andrew,
I like Blue Jay in Winter.
Who ever said that Photography is “For The Birds?”
Mike
- on February 7, 2012 at 7:25 pm | Reply andrewmclachlan
  
  Thanks Michael, I just love the fluffy look to these two images.
  - on February 8, 2012 at 9:23 am Michael A. De Martino
    
    Going to PA to do some waterfalls with my friend in April. Can’t wait to get my 14to24 on them.
    Michael
on March 10, 2012 at 3:23 pm | Reply Cornel Apostol

Very nice bird!
- on March 10, 2012 at 8:04 pm | Reply andrewmclachlan
  
  Hi Cornel, thanks for stopping by and for the comments, much appreciated.