Backyard Birds Photo Series (Paintography)

Continuing with my experiments with paintography effects, I offer you some photos from my Backyard Birds series.  They are a delight to my life, especially during those cold winter months.  I like to use paintography with photos I want to stress form, color and action, as with these delightful little birds.

These photo prints are offered for purchase on my online store at http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/annefreemanimages/AnneFreemanImagesPhotoStore

Below: A female red-bellied woodpecker looks at me as I snap a shot of her feeding at the suet.  My local woodpeckers are pretty tame.  Red-bellied are some of my favorite wild birds.

"Portrait of a Female Red-Bellied Woodpecker" Copyright Anne M. Freeman

  

Below: She’s climbed underneath the suet holder to peck away at the suet.  They typically land on the tree well above the suet feeder, and then shout as they hop down the tree.  Very funny – I always know when they’re here. 

 

   

Below:  Following the red-bellied woodpecker at the suet feeder – or, more typically arriving once they hear the red-belly’s announcement – are the white-breasted nut hatches.  These darling little birds rarely feed directly from the suet feeder.  Rather, they wait for the woodpeckers to make a mess and pick up all the scraps that fall into the heavy bark cracks of this oak tree, or pick them up off the ground below.

   

   

Below: The little nuthatch appears to be doing a split sideways on the tree trunk!  Unlike woodpeckers, these little birds typically move head first down the tree.  This little guy is most likely looking for bits of suet stuck to the bark.  

 

 

    

Below:  Another photograph of the White-Breasted Nuthatch in the woods.  

"White-Breasted Nuthatch With Red Berries" - Copyright Anne M. Freeman

  

Below:  Another frequent visitor to the suet is the Downy Woodpecker, who is the smallest woodpecker in the mid-Atlantic region.  They are color birds, about the size of a sparrow.  Both males and females sport the bright black-and-white back, and the male has a bright red stripe across the back of his head, demonstrated by this trio of prints.

"Male Downy Woodpecker At Feeder #1" Copyright Anne M. Freeman

    

"Male Downy Woodpecker At Feeder #2" Copyright Anne M. Freeman

"Male Downy Woodpecker At Feeder #3" Copyright Anne M. Freeman

     

Below:  This scene could be taken at any time of the year, but it will still look like winter to me.  I suppose it is the green limbs of the pine tree, or the brown and white of the little chipping sparrow, who looks like its seeking shelter there.  Actually, it was eating insects that gathered on the tree’s buds to eat the sap.   

"Chipping Sparrow In the Pines" - Copyright Anne M. Freeman

 

Below:  Over the past number of years, blue birds have become year-round residents.  Apparently there are enough berries and other nourishment for these stunning birds.  This one is seen against a gray winter sky. 

"Bluebird" - Copyright Anne M. Freeman

    

Below:  The Tufted Titmouse feeds at a tray feeder and keeps itself busy.  They are one of the birds who will sing during the winter, along with the little Black-Capped Chickadees.

"Tufted Titmouse" - Copyright Anne M. Freeman

     

I hope that you enjoyed these “painted” photos of Gods little treasures.  They delight all winter.  As the little old lady said in May Poppins, “Feed the birds, tuppence a bag.”  

These photo prints are offered for purchase on my online store at http://www.shutterfly.com/pro/annefreemanimages/AnneFreemanImagesPhotoStore