a beautiful mistake

**Coloradoblue** · 02-01-2014, 10:14 AM - **6 Likes**

I got interested in photography several years ago, bought a K200D and couldn't put it down. Last summer I upgraded to a K5ii-s. I am still learning. One day I was messing around with the settings and snapped this picture of a baby chickadee with a 50-300. Although it's not a perfect exposure (I had the ISO set way too high), I love how the background blurred. My husband asked me how I made it look "like a painting". I have no idea! I think it is just beautiful bokeh rendered by my great camera and lens. Thoughts?

Attached Images

OldNoob · 02-01-2014, 10:22 AM - **1 Like**

thats a great shot!

jimr-pdx · 02-01-2014, 10:24 AM - **1 Like**

Looks like perhaps a few foreground branches totally fuzzed out parts of the image and the transitions took contrast down in places. Overall it's a great effect! You might be able to make it happen again, given the branches and lighting - but putting a bird in the middle, that's probably not going to happen often.

stevebrot · 02-01-2014, 10:29 AM - **1 Like**

Very nice indeed! My "mistakes" should be so fortunate!

Steve

Sdenby · 02-01-2014, 10:31 AM - **2 Likes**

Always nice when you make some beautiful mistakes.
Usually leads to some of my best shots.
Overall, really great shot.

Julie · 02-01-2014, 10:34 AM - **1 Like**

I really like it!
Even if I TRIED, I probably couldn't get a photo of a bird that nice.

**jva59** · 02-01-2014, 10:42 AM - **1 Like**

Nice shot. ONe of the pleasures of photography is the way that some of the best shots are just due to serendipity.

**Coloradoblue** · 02-01-2014, 10:56 AM

Thanks for the nice feedback! I'll keep practicing!

Julie · 02-01-2014, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by Coloradoblue

Thanks for the nice feedback! I'll keep practicing!

You don't need practice, just keep making these great mistakes!

jeantree · 02-01-2014, 11:48 AM - **1 Like**

It is a great shot! Have you blown it up to hang on the wall? It'd make a great greeting card too! Keep making those mistakes!

sherrvonne · 02-01-2014, 12:26 PM

I wish my mistakes turned out that nice. Great shot.

**robgski** · 02-01-2014, 01:09 PM - **1 Like**

It does look like a painting, I"d remember the settings and try to replicate that look in the future.

Few painting have sharp details and crisp lines, yet evoke a feeling, or present a total image that is more than the sum of its parts; gettign that same effect without using filter or PP is tough, but works very well, especially for nature scenes, IMO.

lguckert79 · 02-01-2014, 01:12 PM

I love your image and it is like a painting

Edchristenson · 02-01-2014, 02:33 PM - **1 Like**

Very nice indeed.

Na Horuk · 02-01-2014, 05:22 PM

That's a wonderful shot! Yes, its interesting how sometimes a "mistake" turns out so well

Over here we say that it worked out better than if you actually tried to achieve it
But its still good to think about it, about what made it turn out that way. The blur and sharpness certainly make this photo quite magical

02-01-2014, 10:14 AM - 6 Likes	#1
Coloradoblue Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Denver metro area Posts: 20	a beautiful mistake I got interested in photography several years ago, bought a K200D and couldn't put it down. Last summer I upgraded to a K5ii-s. I am still learning. One day I was messing around with the settings and snapped this picture of a baby chickadee with a 50-300. Although it's not a perfect exposure (I had the ISO set way too high), I love how the background blurred. My husband asked me how I made it look "like a painting". I have no idea! I think it is just beautiful bokeh rendered by my great camera and lens. Thoughts? Attached Images

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02-01-2014, 10:22 AM - 1 Like	#2
OldNoob Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 402	thats a great shot!

02-01-2014, 10:24 AM - 1 Like	#3
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Looks like perhaps a few foreground branches totally fuzzed out parts of the image and the transitions took contrast down in places. Overall it's a great effect! You might be able to make it happen again, given the branches and lighting - but putting a bird in the middle, that's probably not going to happen often.

02-01-2014, 10:29 AM - 1 Like	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Very nice indeed! My "mistakes" should be so fortunate! Steve

02-01-2014, 10:31 AM - 2 Likes	#5
Sdenby Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 122	Always nice when you make some beautiful mistakes. Usually leads to some of my best shots. Overall, really great shot.

02-01-2014, 10:34 AM - 1 Like	#6
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069	I really like it! Even if I TRIED, I probably couldn't get a photo of a bird that nice.

02-01-2014, 10:42 AM - 1 Like	#7
jva59 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,409	Nice shot. ONe of the pleasures of photography is the way that some of the best shots are just due to serendipity.

02-01-2014, 10:56 AM	#8
Coloradoblue Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Denver metro area Posts: 20 Original Poster	Thanks for the nice feedback! I'll keep practicing!

02-01-2014, 10:57 AM	#9
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069	Originally posted by Coloradoblue Thanks for the nice feedback! I'll keep practicing! You don't need practice, just keep making these great mistakes!

02-01-2014, 11:48 AM - 1 Like	#10
jeantree Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Missouri Photos: Gallery Posts: 221	It is a great shot! Have you blown it up to hang on the wall? It'd make a great greeting card too! Keep making those mistakes!

02-01-2014, 12:26 PM	#11
sherrvonne Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,975	I wish my mistakes turned out that nice. Great shot.

02-01-2014, 01:09 PM - 1 Like	#12
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	It does look like a painting, I"d remember the settings and try to replicate that look in the future. Few painting have sharp details and crisp lines, yet evoke a feeling, or present a total image that is more than the sum of its parts; gettign that same effect without using filter or PP is tough, but works very well, especially for nature scenes, IMO.

02-01-2014, 01:12 PM	#13
lguckert79 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 601	I love your image and it is like a painting

02-01-2014, 02:33 PM - 1 Like	#14
Edchristenson Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Northern NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 50	Very nice indeed.

02-01-2014, 05:22 PM	#15
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	That's a wonderful shot! Yes, its interesting how sometimes a "mistake" turns out so well Over here we say that it worked out better than if you actually tried to achieve it But its still good to think about it, about what made it turn out that way. The blur and sharpness certainly make this photo quite magical