“How do you get those colors?”

I get that question a lot so, I thought I’d take a minute and briefly share.

Our house backs up to woods and a creek. We also have various trees and foliage in our back yard. I have also set up perching spots in the yard.
When I shoot, I try to be careful in framing the shot and positioning myself so as to eliminate potential background distractions. But, that’s not always possible. For wildlife I shoot with a long tele (600mm). And by having anywhere from 5-50 feet of clearance between the subject and background, the background will usually be very blurry and, if set against the woods, very dark. However, there are things in the background (depending on time of year) that really add to the image. We have a redwood tree near one perch that provides a nice stripe of red/orange. We also have a redbud with bright green lichen on the trunk and thick branches. In spring we plant many flowers for butterflies and birds to feed on.

There are 3 main elements in photo making. Composition, exposure, and light – with light always being key. The way light plays in the background or woods behind us is always changing and adding a rainbow of colors. On very overcast days the light is flat which makes images not all that interesting. Other days early morning or late afternoon light can yield some really wonderful light.