Spring robin

[ladyups]

This was taken this past spring on one of my walks. After viewing all of Gary's great shots of his feathered friends, I'm also going to have to get some feeders! I was pleased with this shot but know that I could do better. Maybe after I get my lessons completed I can take that same walk again and the feathered friends will pose once more.

Please do not hesitate to comment and critic my photos. I want to learn to take beautiful pictures and my eyes don't always see what other eyes do.

Mary

[gjtoth]

This was taken this past spring on one of my walks. After viewing all of Gary's great shots of his feathered friends, I'm also going to have to get some feeders! I was pleased with this shot but know that I could do better. Maybe after I get my lessons completed I can take that same walk again and the feathered friends will pose once more.

Please do not hesitate to comment and critic my photos. I want to learn to take beautiful pictures and my eyes don't always see what other eyes do.

Mary

I like this, Mary. I think if you can *maybe* clone out some of the leaves, etc. around his head it might make him a little less hidden in there. I like the color, comp. Clarity is outrageous. NICE!

I'm glad so many folks are putting up feeders. A few of our neighbors have picked up on this, too. Birds are not just photo subjects but good insect control. Lots of folks don't even take that into consideration when putting up their feeders and stop feeding during the warmer months when you need the birds most. Same with bats who have received a bum rap for centuries. I put up a bat house this fall and plan on another this Spring. They're GREAT for insect control -- especially mosquitoes!

[LensBaby]

Mary I really really like this photo. I like the colors, the clarity, and the subject. Great job!

[ladyups]

I like this, Mary. I think if you can *maybe* clone out some of the leaves, etc. around his head it might make him a little less hidden in there. I like the color, comp. Clarity is outrageous. NICE!

I'm glad so many folks are putting up feeders. A few of our neighbors have picked up on this, too. Birds are not just photo subjects but good insect control. Lots of folks don't even take that into consideration when putting up their feeders and stop feeding during the warmer months when you need the birds most. Same with bats who have received a bum rap for centuries. I put up a bat house this fall and plan on another this Spring. They're GREAT for insect control -- especially mosquitoes!

Ok, I'll give the cloning a try. I'm not real good at that yet, but practice makes perfect, right? :)

Wow, I never even thought about the insect aspect of birds. But, that makes sense and I can always use some mosquito prevention around here in this humid climate. My sister-in-law loves her birds and puts up lots of feeders. She feeds some bird (danged if I can think of the name now!) with jelly and orange slices. I got a picture but its not real good. You will find out that I'm bird illiterate. :eek:

Mary

[ladyups]

Mary I really really like this photo. I like the colors, the clarity, and the subject. Great job!

Thank you, Susan. I was really surprised how it came out cause it was handheld and I really didn't know what I was doing when I shot it. I'm posting another version that Gary suggested. I like the new version but it kind of messed up his beak.

Mary

[gjtoth]

Ok, I'll give the cloning a try. I'm not real good at that yet, but practice makes perfect, right? :)

Wow, I never even thought about the insect aspect of birds. But, that makes sense and I can always use some mosquito prevention around here in this humid climate. My sister-in-law loves her birds and puts up lots of feeders. She feeds some bird (danged if I can think of the name now!) with jelly and orange slices. I got a picture but its not real good. You will find out that I'm bird illiterate. :eek:

Mary

Mary, until I started photographing 'em, all little birds were sparrows unless they were a bluejay or cardinal. All big birds were hawks unless they were a crow. This book will help you tremendously. You can quickly look them up BY COLOR and the birds aren't paintings or drawings (which are very misleading), they're photos. It's excellent.

http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Missouri-Field-Guide-Guides/dp/1885061358/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200245245&sr=8-1

That bird appears to be a male Baltimore Oriole.

[ladyups]

That bird appears to be a male Baltimore Oriole.

Yep, that is correct. I remember her telling me now cause she said the male is the pretty one, the female isn't pretty at all. She has tried for two years to 'keep' them. They usually just fly in for a week or two and move on but this past year, they made themselves at home. She says she still hasn't been able to see their nest but she's sure its in the top of that big tree. They go through a jar of grape jelly and a dozen oranges every week but she enjoys watching them and keeps them happy.

I'll be ordering that book. Heck, I'm 55, it's time I start bird watching. :D

Mary

[gjtoth]

Yep, that is correct. I remember her telling me now cause she said the male is the pretty one, the female isn't pretty at all. She has tried for two years to 'keep' them. They usually just fly in for a week or two and move on but this past year, they made themselves at home. She says she still hasn't been able to see their nest but she's sure its in the top of that big tree. They go through a jar of grape jelly and a dozen oranges every week but she enjoys watching them and keeps them happy.

I'll be ordering that book. Heck, I'm 55, it's time I start bird watching. :D

Mary

I just started this past late Spring at 60. It's not as "sedate" as one might imagine. Especially, with a camera in one hand and book in the other! Several of my younger (MUCH younger) neighbors and relatives have absolutely taken to it with a vengeance. They each have a copy of that book (for various locales) and keep track of what they've been able to attract to their feeding stations. Eventually, I'm going to let them in on the idea of giving their tracking information to the various and sundry departments/bureaus of wildlife. The figures are vital to them so they can track migration routes and changes, numbers (to prevent extinction), and keeping tabs on various possible diseases (bird flu, West Nile virus, etc.). All of this comes from folks like you and me. Important stuff and fun to boot, eh?

[ladyups]

I just started this past late Spring at 60. It's not as "sedate" as one might imagine. Especially, with a camera in one hand and book in the other! Several of my younger (MUCH younger) neighbors and relatives have absolutely taken to it with a vengeance. They each have a copy of that book (for various locales) and keep track of what they've been able to attract to their feeding stations. Eventually, I'm going to let them in on the idea of giving their tracking information to the various and sundry departments/bureaus of wildlife. The figures are vital to them so they can track migration routes and changes, numbers (to prevent extinction), and keeping tabs on various possible diseases (bird flu, West Nile virus, etc.). All of this comes from folks like you and me. Important stuff and fun to boot, eh?

You have me intrigued, to say the least. I've got the book in my cart and as soon as I find something else I need or want, I'll be ordering. Want to get the free shipping. BTW..do you know if I have to buy a special Polarizer to fit my lens or do they all fit the same, like universal? I want a UV filter to protect my lens and I'd like to have a polarizer too.

Mary

[gjtoth]

You have me intrigued, to say the least. I've got the book in my cart and as soon as I find something else I need or want, I'll be ordering. Want to get the free shipping. BTW..do you know if I have to buy a special Polarizer to fit my lens or do they all fit the same, like universal? I want a UV filter to protect my lens and I'd like to have a polarizer too.

Mary


As near as I can tell, you'll need 55mm filter. Before jumping on anything, I'd ask at my local camera shop. There are TONS of sets on eBay. Some good, some not-so-good. Since entering the prosumer camera stuff, I've had REAL good luck (because so much photo stuff is a crap shoot, at best). I've been getting my stuff from the outfit that sells this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/55mm-UV-PL-DIFFUSION-Filter-Kit-For-SONY-DSLR-A700_W0QQitemZ180203021998QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30066 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The shipping is a bit stiff but, like I said, I've been pretty happy with their stuff. You can also do a search on eBay for pre-owned name brand lenses, filters and other stuff. Also, try Froogle Google http://www.google.com/prdhp?hl=en&tab=wf If you're going to order online from eBay or ANYWHERE, watch the shipping charges! Especially, on eBay.

Hope this helps.

[dkippen]

Mary -


I'm just catching up on posts - in case you haven't noticed. As far as the filter goes, you'll want the filter to fit your lens and they do come in different sizes and prices. I have UV filters on my lenses, then the polorizer. The polarizer is used on sunny days only to help bring out the blues. For digital, make sure you get a circular. I think I got the mid-range Hoya.

[ladyups]

Mary -


I'm just catching up on posts - in case you haven't noticed. As far as the filter goes, you'll want the filter to fit your lens and they do come in different sizes and prices. I have UV filters on my lenses, then the polorizer. The polarizer is used on sunny days only to help bring out the blues. For digital, make sure you get a circular. I think I got the mid-range Hoya.

I'm suppose to be backing up data and can't seem to keep with it. I've got one DVD burning as I type but its going to take me forever. I wanted to go through and kind of sort them all out and get rid of ones that just aren't any good. Just can't get myself to hit the delete key on blurry pics of my grands. I can still tell its them even if they are blurry. I started out doing a full backup but that was going to take somewhere around 100 DVD's...I think my Retrospect was going to backup my whole computer but couldn't figure out how to tell it what I really wanted so just doing it the manual way.

I'll do some more research on the filters. I've found some kits for the Sony but they come with tripod and bag and I don't need either of those. Are you saying you put the UV filter on and then the polarizer goes on it? As you can tell, I don't know much about this.

Mary:confused:

[dkippen]

Mary -

For backing up, have you thought about getting an external drive? Prices have really come down lately. Thats what I use. Then, I make sure to save ALL personal stuff, pictures, files, etc. to the "My documents" folder, which is then copied to the external. One of my projects is to also copy pictures to DVD, just haven't gotten that far yet.

Filters - I leave the UV on all the times, mostly as lens protection. In most cases, it doesn't affect the quality of your pictures. Then the polarizer or any other filter you want to use will go on that. Many UV filters have threads on both sides - make sure the one you get has threads on both sides.

[ladyups]

Mary -

For backing up, have you thought about getting an external drive? Prices have really come down lately. Thats what I use. Then, I make sure to save ALL personal stuff, pictures, files, etc. to the "My documents" folder, which is then copied to the external. One of my projects is to also copy pictures to DVD, just haven't gotten that far yet.

Filters - I leave the UV on all the times, mostly as lens protection. In most cases, it doesn't affect the quality of your pictures. Then the polarizer or any other filter you want to use will go on that. Many UV filters have threads on both sides - make sure the one you get has threads on both sides.

I have an external and do backup to it with all my personal stuff but I'm wanting to put them on DVD too. Just more insurance I guess. Basically, I'm only backing my pictures to the DVDs. I can live without some of my other stuff but not my pictures of my grands. I need to spend a week just sorting and cleaning up my computer. I start out organized and end up in a mess cause I get in a hurry and forget to put it where it belongs. Kind of like my craft closet...:D I'm starting to think about buying another external. I'm thinking it would be easier than using the DVDs.

Ok. I think I understand about the filters and thanks for telling me to make sure its double threaded. I wouldn't have thought of that. I know I want the UV filters to protect my lenses cause I like to take my camera on 4-wheeler rides and need protection.

Thanks Deb!

Mary