So the strangest thing happened tonight as I was taking crow pictures at sunset. For about 30 seconds, the crows registered as bright blue on the camera. They did not look like this to the eye. All images are the unretouched jpegs straight out of the camera. Can anyone explain?
So the strangest thing happened tonight as I was taking crow pictures at sunset. For about 30 seconds, the crows registered as bright blue on the camera. They did not look like this to the eye. All images are the unretouched jpegs straight out of the camera. Can anyone explain?
So the strangest thing happened tonight as I was taking crow pictures at sunset. For about 30 seconds, the crows registered as bright blue on the camera. They did not look like this to the eye. All images are the unretouched jpegs straight out of the camera. Can anyone explain?
So the strangest thing happened tonight as I was taking crow pictures at sunset. For about 30 seconds, the crows registered as bright blue on the camera. They did not look like this to the eye. All images are the unretouched jpegs straight out of the camera. Can anyone explain?
So the strangest thing happened tonight as I was taking crow pictures at sunset. For about 30 seconds, the crows registered as bright blue on the camera. They did not look like this to the eye. All images are the unretouched jpegs straight out of the camera. Can anyone explain?
The raw files are better, but still heavily blue-shifted just for the crow, not the background. This is totally unretouched, straight out of the camera.
I really don't think it's a generic white balance issue. Here are shots take 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after that magical minute of blue.
I really don't think it's a generic white balance issue. Here are shots take 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after that magical minute of blue.
I really don't think it's a generic white balance issue. Here are shots take 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after that magical minute of blue.
I mean you have GOT to be kidding me.

Again untouched straight out of the camera.

(On the positive side: I love that idea that crows, who see in UV, look a bit like this to one another all the time.)
Here is the raw image for the last blue shot and its histogram (top) and the first regular shot after the blue period and its histogram (bottom). These shots were taken exactly five seconds apart.
Here is the raw image for the last blue shot and its histogram (top) and the first regular shot after the blue period and its histogram (bottom). These shots were taken exactly five seconds apart.
Here is the raw image for the last blue shot and its histogram (top) and the first regular shot after the blue period and its histogram (bottom). These shots were taken exactly five seconds apart.
Here is the raw image for the last blue shot and its histogram (top) and the first regular shot after the blue period and its histogram (bottom). These shots were taken exactly five seconds apart.
Here is the raw image for the last blue shot and its histogram (top) and the first regular shot after the blue period and its histogram (bottom). These shots were taken exactly five seconds apart.
It seems to me that the shots during the blue minute aren't as sharp and the focus isn't as good. Maybe I'm imagining things or just didn't get it right during that moment. But I do wonder if the AF wasn't fooled somewhat as well.

Here's a shot two minutes after the blue.
If anyone has the technical background to explore more, here are the raw (.dng) files for the last blue and first post-blue picture taken 5 seconds later.

Camera is Nikon D850. Lens Nikkor 500 f/5.6 PF. Filter B+W 010 UV+haze.

https://dropbox.com/s/t7tr52h1kbjfkaz/mystery_last_blue.dng?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y9pit1aqoa2gkus/mystery_first_post_blue.dng?dl=0
And it looks like we have a solution. Rather mundane, I'm afraid, compared to blue crows.

A white balance error in the camera dropped the color temperature dramatically for the blue crow series. When the system recovered, the crows went back to normal. https://twitter.com/reedmideke/status/1333632773488222214
Last one for the night. I love these birds so much. What a strong powerful beak this one has!
I'm overwhelmed at how much people like my magical blue crows. Thank you all and if I haven't had a chance to respond personally, I apologize.

Below, a thread with a few more photographs of my friends (in black and white). https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1332505926864044033
Oh, and for people who aren't so into blue, they come in caramel-brown as well. Thread: https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1176281486812561408
Today something spooked the crows. I shot a dozen frames and then they retreated high in the trees, scolding me as if I were trying to trap them. It was very odd and a bit concerting.

Perhaps humans are not meant to see the magical blue crow.
Today something spooked the crows. I shot a dozen frames and then they retreated high in the trees, scolding me as if I were trying to trap them. It was very odd and a bit concerting. Perhaps humans are not meant to see the magical blue crow.
Today something spooked the crows. I shot a dozen frames and then they retreated high in the trees, scolding me as if I were trying to trap them. It was very odd and a bit concerting. Perhaps humans are not meant to see the magical blue crow.
From @corvidresearch, a great post about crows, UV vision, and what all of that had to do with these photos. https://corvidresearch.blog/2020/12/02/crow-curiosities-can-crows-see-uv/
Crow curiosities: can crows see UV?

Recently, a marvelous set of blue crow photos from Carl Bergstrom had the internet’s corvid fans doing a collective double take. In addressing what could be responsible for such spectacularly…

https://corvidresearch.blog/2020/12/02/crow-curiosities-can-crows-see-uv/
The crows were afraid for a couple of days, but I've regained their trust.
Some people have been interested in how I make these shots work.

Most of it is the light. As sunset approaches, I gather my crow friends. Then for just ten minutes immediately after sunset, the light is just right.

Here's a shot straight out of the camera.
The above is unedited in any way. Then if you apply (digitally) a high-contrast blue filter, this is what you get.
And then I touch up the pixel noise, contrast, etc., and here's what you end up with.
Probably my favorite of the shots from today.

(Square format, which of course twitter doesn't display well.)
Tonight's #crow
One more beautiful crow.
You can follow @CT_Bergstrom.
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