Tuesday Tidbit—#6: Double Shot

Well, since I was talking about the frontier last week and skipped the Tuesday Tidbit, here’s a double shot this week (pun intended).

I love watching birds from our kitchen window. I admit it. 

Just before dinner last night, one of my kids who shall remain unnamed for now, said, “Who in our family says, ‘Oh, look. There’s a Purple-Speckled Spotted Owl!’ ?” Everyone laughed except me. 

I took a photograph of two bluebirds in the snow last winter. I’ve duplicated and altered it just a little bit. Can you tell the difference (very slight) between these two photographs? Which one looks better to you?

So. . .  Here’s your Tuesday Tidbit Double Shot:

1. CATCHLIGHT. The first photograph is unaltered. If you look closely, you can see the “catchlight” in the left eye of each bluebird—particularly the bird on the left. The catchlight is a highlight in the subject’s eye that gives it a little more pop. 

In the second photograph, I removed the catchlight, and you can see that these birds don’t have much spark to them.

So... the tidbit is this: When you’re photographing people or animals, try to find a light source that will cause a catchlight in the eye. It’s not that hard (even in an overcast snowy day!), and it makes a HUGE difference in the photograph. If you don’t believe me, look around your house at the photographs you really like best. I’ll just about guarantee that the people have a catchlight in their eyes.

2. ELIMINATOR. Tidbit #2 for today: If you are having trouble with squirrels at your bird feeder, the feeder in the photograph is incredible. It’s called the “Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder” and works period. It’s expensive, but so is feeding squirrels. :)