Autumn Blues

Oh Dave, I really have lens envy. I love the 400mm focal length and to have one that's fast as well, ahhhhhh, heaven. Is it heavier than the f5.6? I imagine it would be. Were these shots hand held?

The Carolina wrens are my guilty pleasure. They have a very perky posture and movement, which I enjoy year-round, but especially now, as a harbinger of Springtime.

Margaret, it is too long and too heavy for me to hand hold and it requires a strong tripod as well.. It is a tiny bit shorter but I think it actually weighs more than the 600 f/4 and it is definitely heavier than the 500 f/4. I also like the 400mm focal length and I use the 400 f/4 DO as what you might call my "walk about" lens and it is the lightest lens I own.

I can hand hold the 200mm f/1.8, the 300mm f/2.8 and for a minute or so, the 500mm f/4.

Boston, I love the Carolina wrens as well. I love how they sing! They, along with the titmice and the chickadees, are my favorites -- all after the bluebirds, of course.

Well, thanks for that, Dave. That's one very heavy lens, but it has wonderful reviews.

Dave, your camera and lens collection is extraordinary and something all of us dream about. Congrats on the new lens-the photos have always been spectacular. It's wonderful that you have such a perfectly suited hobby.

From time to time I get requests from artists or illustrators, wanting to use my pictures of bluebirds as models for some drawing or illustration they are working on. I almost always give them permission, and rarely ever hear anything from them again. A few months ago I got such a request from Sue Shanahan, a Chicago-based artist who specializes in children's portraits and illustrations for children's books. Many of her drawings feature fairies and flowers.

She wanted to see a bluebird in flight and I told her she could browse through my SmugMug site. I never knew which of my pictures she ultimately used.

Several weeks ago she sent me a copy of the finished drawing and I thought you might like to see it. It took me until today to find the picture she used as a model.

Incidentally, you can see more of her work at www.sueshanahan.com

This message was edited Feb 22, 2012 11:51 PM

Absolutely enchanting, Dave. And how nice to receive some feedback.

Both images are lovely, the "real" photo, and the illustration.

Nice that she got back to you.

It's a beautiful shot Dave and she is a very talented artist. How nice you got feedback!