Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Week 45, Day 316, March 9, 2010, Evidence of Spring

We're on our 4th day in a row of Sunny Skies.  People around here are in shock, and thinking of spring.  It looks as if the Mallard Ducks are as well.

I think that the colder and darker the winter season, the more we appreciate spring.  There are smiles on peoples face everywhere.  Life is good.

Lessons Learned:
  • I think that when photographing birds the photographer either needs to be very fast, or very patient.  Because of a lack of time, I went for speed on this photo as the ducks retreated up river.  That caused a lack of clarity because I was holding the camera instead of using a tripod.  I also had some blurry photos of hawks.  I think that setting up and waiting for birds will result in better photos.
Photo details: Exposure time 1/800 sec, Aperture f/2.8, ISO 100, Focal Length 200 mm, Lens Canon 70-200mm f2.8L USM, handheld.

8 comments:

James said...

Nice reflections in the water. It felt down right warm today.

Andrew said...

I've noticed that with a lot of more "domesticated" birds (ducks, seagulls, etc.), having a few pieces of old bread on hand turn them into VERY willing models. But when shooting with long focal lengths, a monopod is my weapon of choice. Almost all the versatility of shooting handheld, but will significantly steady your frame.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

looks like a post card Steve!

Yolanda said...

Lovely reflections in the pond, and the motion of the ducks. You can definitely feel "spring" in this shot, even though there is snow! Beautiful composition!

I am hopeful too - it's been very warm and sunny here for several days in a row and the snow is really starting to melt!

ruma said...

I surely feel a sign of the spring.

Thank you for showing scenery of wonderful Nature.

Nicki said...

Beautiful, Steve!

BSOB said...

Stevo - some thoughts for you; not that you havent explored this medium, but cropping in itself is an artform. make the photo work for you rather then depend soley on its parameters. the photo on top (ducks) is calling to be cropped. i feel it. give it a go and maybe repost it.

Gallow said...

Ben,

I agree with you completely. I initially tried a closer crop on the ducks, but avoided it on this shot because of the blurry photo. When I cropped closer to the ducks, the blur was very obvious. So, I tried to concentrate on the reflection in the water instead. I don't think it worked very well.

Steve