TOBACCOVILLE, NC -  As most of you already know, every June for me is the month I photograph hummingbirds.  Hummingbirds are without a doubt my favorite "songbird" and perhaps my favorite bird.  I tend to flip flop on which bird species is my favorite, but I don't think I would have it any other way.

In North Carolina, we only have one species of hummingbird; the ruby-throated hummingbird.  I guess if you are only going to have one species of hummer, the ruby-throated is a great one to have.  The name comes from the male, who is named for his beautiful iridescent red gorget.  As he moves, in relation to the light source, this area reflects back in sparkling red.



Forsyth County, NC - A male ruby-throated hummingbird.  Note the red reflecting from his gorget.  This is my favorite image from this year's additions to the hummingbird project

Each year, I try to add new images using different flowers and different backgrounds from the previous year.  This year I hand painted a background to best simulate the foliage in my area, yet give me an uncluttered and smooth look.  I also worked with both the petunia and the saliva.  I am not entirely sure why, but it appears that the hummingbirds in my area prefer the petunia to the red salvia.  Perhaps it is that they actually prefer the bell shaped flowers, but I have not made any definitive conclusions.


Forsyth County, NC - A ruby-throated hummingbird positioned in from of red saliva.

My setup for photographing hummingbirds remains largely the same as it has been in past years.  I use a three flash studio setup.  Two flashes are positioned to the right and left of the subject at roughly 45 degree angles and one flash is positioned to illuminate the backdrop. By varying my background flash distance from the background, I can change how dark and how light the background looks.  This is one way, you can set the mood of your image.  You can also change the background flash position to the right or left so it gives the image a gradient.

The most important thing to remember when photographing hummingbirds with flash is to control the duration of the flash.  I like to have my power set at a maximum of 1/16 power, and most of the time I am in the 1/32 or 1/128 power.  This short duration allows me to freeze the wings perfectly.  Of course all of this is contingent on what kind of effects you want  in your photography.  



Forsyth County, NC - The female ruby-throated is larger and has a slightly different shape than the male.  Both are beautiful creatures.

I also spent time this year looking for shots without flowers in them to further isolate the subject and allow the viewer to better see the details in the feathers without the distraction of a competing flower in the shot.  The final shot in this newsletter is an example of this type of image.  This is just part of my overall style that you see repeated through most of my work.  I like to get close and go for impact and detail.  

In conclusion, I think this June, I was able to capture some compelling images to add to my Hummingbird Project.  The main point of this project is to capture the ruby-throated hummingbird under various lighting conditions, backgrounds and angles.  Sometimes I try something which fails (you don't see those shots) and other times I hit pay dirt.  The point is that i keep going and keep trying something new or something I have never been able to do.  I think this is how we grow as nature photographers.  I keep uping my game every year, and it is becoming more difficult to top the year before.  When we get stagnate is when things get boring and uninteresting.  


Whether it be in nature photography or just in life in general, what will you do next to up your game?  

Announcements:
  • Check out the latest podcast episodes 
  • Consider becoming a patron to my work.  Funds received from your help, will go toward keeping the infrastructure in place to keep providing free content.  As you know, web site hosting, microphones and recording gear are very costly.  To find out more about being a patron and how this can benefit you, head out to my Patreon site : https://www.patreon.com/mattcuda 
  • Individual training, and honest and useful portfolio critiques available.  Email me at matt.cuda@mattcuda.com
______________________________________________________________________

My Websitehttp://www.mattcuda.com

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For anyone not subscribed tho this newsletter because it is forwarded to you by others, you may sign up at the this link:  http://mattcuda.com/index.php?/pages/newsletter-signup/

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If you are on this email list then you have either signed up for my newsletter or you have expressed interesting in doing business with me in the future.  This newsletter represents much of my latest work and is a great way to be the first to purchase my images and story ideas.  Although I would hate to see you go, you are welcome to unsubscribe using the link below.
Copyright © 2017 Matt Cuda, All rights reserved.

TOBACCOVILLE, NC - As I sit here at my desk and look out over my backyard, the signs of Spring are everywhere.  The gregarious grackles are feeding on the ground, robins are calling and grabbing for a plump worm, and the northern cardinal has begun to sing at length.

Although these birds are are all amazing creatures, the focus of my lens this year will fall on the amazing and beautiful eastern bluebird.  A member of the thrush family, the eastern bluebird is a striking figure with it's bright blue feathers and rusty breast.  One might argue that they are more striking than the famed northern cardinal. 

The Bluebird Project
Although, I certainly knew about and admired the eastern bluebird in books and magazines, it wasn't until 2014 that I came almost face to beak with this amazing little bird.  It was winter of 2014 to be precise.  A cold snap had fallen on the Piedmont of North Carolina, and to prove it we had several inches of snow on the ground that morning.  Knowing that birds would be desperate for food, I put fresh seed in the feeder, climbed into my blind, and began waiting for the birds to wake up and start foraging for food.

The typical suspects were present.  Carolina chickadees, wrens, nuthatches and the titmouse all made the list that day.  This day, I was performing what is called short lens bird photography.  This involves using a lens in the 200-300mm range and setting up a perch about 8 feet away from the camera. Using this technique you can get a more intimate look at the subject and often a different perspective.

I had pre-focused on the perch, and with shutter release in hand I made many photographs of the typical subjects.  This went on for probably an hour, but eventually a lull settled in as the birds retreated back to safer locations.  I was almost ready to call it day when, without warning, there on the perch was a male eastern bluebird.  Instinctively I brought my thumb down on the remote release and the camera fired a burst of five images.  Although these first images were nothing to brag about, that day began a great interest in the bluebird.

In 2017, I continue my pursuit of study of the eastern bluebird, by officially launching "The Bluebird Project."  This will be an ongoing project where I photograph the life of the eastern bluebird.  I have had the privilege of watching brood after brood emerge from nesting locations and now I officially begin the documentation process.  Below are the first images to christen this project in 2017.


Forsyth County, NC - A high key shot of the male eastern bluebird calling.  Note the head tilted back slightly and the feathers raised.  This is a typical behavior when a songbird is calling or singing.  He is currently part of a nesting pair I am documenting with this project.



Forsyth County, NC - Part of The Bluebird Project, involves documenting their nesting behavior.  Here the male darts out from the nest box.

Forsyth County, NC - The image that started it all.  Perhaps not my best work, but sometimes it only takes one shot to start a new passion.


I hope you enjoyed this month's images.  It is always my hope that others will be able to experience what I see though my eyes as I travel God's great and magnificent creation.  He is the great painter. All I do is just share his paintings.  


Announcements:
  • Check out the latest podcast episodes 
  • Consider becoming a patron to my work.  Funds received from your help, will go toward keeping the infrastructure in place to keep providing free content.  As you know, web site hosting, microphones and recording gear are very costly.  To find out more about being a patron and how this can benefit you, head out to my Patreon site : https://www.patreon.com/mattcuda 
  • Individual training, and honest and useful portfolio critiques available.  Email me at matt.cuda@mattcuda.com
______________________________________________________________________

My Websitehttp://www.mattcuda.com

My Bloghttp://www.mattcuda.com/index.php?/essays/

Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/mattcuda

Stock Images http://www.alamy.com/stock-photography/211A2AB5-A104-42E5-99F0-9946B976EA0A/1/Matthew%20Cuda.html

For anyone not subscribed tho this newsletter because it is forwarded to you by others, you may sign up at the this link:  http://mattcuda.com/index.php?/pages/newsletter-signup/

To purchase any of my prints please use the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/mattcudaphotography/shop?rid=821368074582352&rt=9

You may also contact me directly to purchase prints:  matt.cuda@mattcuda.com

If you are on this email list then you have either signed up for my newsletter or you have expressed interesting in doing business with me in the future.  This newsletter represents much of my latest work and is a great way to be the first to purchase my images and story ideas.  Although I would hate to see you go, you are welcome to unsubscribe using the link below.
Copyright © 2016 Matt Cuda, All rights reserved.