Better (really) late than never!

Here are the photos from April 10th, finally! I'm finding that I'm getting more and more picky about what I keep and edit each time...I shot nearly 400 photos and these are the only 4 I would even consider sharing.

Sparrows and a grackel. I do really like grackles. They sort of remind me of corvids. I've always had a fondness for ravens and crows...and Poe...but that's fodder for another post.

No BIF photos...yet, but I was out again this morning for a couple of hours, so here's hoping. I also still haven't even looked at last weekends photos yet. Where do people find the time?

- Paula

Postscript to previous post...

...I think I got one! Maybe two!

What did I get?

BIF shots! Maybe...I don't want to get too excited as I'm still just previewing raw images so keep your fingers crossed.

If all goes well, I will post something here soon!

- Paula

Expensive Equipment Does Not a Good Photographer Make

I'd like to say "I just don't get it", but the truth is, I do get it. All the fancy camera equipment in the world can't make up for bad timing, lousey reflexes, imperfect lighting and just plain inexperience.

Ansel Adams has been quoted as saying (and I'm paraphrasing here, because I'm just too lazy to look up the acutal quote) 12 good shots in a year is a great year for a photographer.

I guess I'm just getting disillusioned by the money that has gone out the door in the past 4 years on equipment (I've personally put at least 3 Henry's employees through college, including lodging, pizza and beer, I'm certain). I've learned A LOT from the two camera clubs I now belong to but I'm not a patient person, damn it!

My "grail" right now, is BIF, or Bird In Flight, to the uninitiated. I had the most amazing opportunity a few weeks ago, along with a group of other photographers, to shoot a wild red tailed hawk for nearly 2 HOURS (yes HOURS) less than 20' away (and yes, that's FEET) at times. I've seen some of the other photographers photos, and I don't know what the difference is, perhaps it's in the post-processing because I don't have photoshop, but I've yet to post any of my photos because they pale by comparison.

Today, I shot tree swallows, buffle head ducks, canada geese, red winged blackbirds, chickadees, cardinals, etc...I'm still downloading the photos, so check back to see if I post any...

- Paula

Last weekends usual suspects

Editorial to come :)

I'm off shooting again this morning!

- Paula

I'm back - while I wait for today's photos to download, I've got some time to kill, so here's the scoop on last weekends birding at Halls Road.

I don't know why more people don't like these birds - I think they are amazing. This is a common grackle (bronze phase, as it turns out). I think, in the sunlight, they are one of the most striking-looking birds with their piercing, intense yellow eyes and iridescent chameleon feathers.

You'll notice that the blue jay below is on the same limb as the grackle above. Neat trick if you want to get good bird shots in a "natural looking" environment. Put braches in/on the bird feeder and shoot the birds when they land on the branch instead of the feeder! This branch was laying on top of a tray of seeds and peanutes which was very attractive to many species of birds.

Much later in the day, we were making our way out to where we've seen kestrals several times and spotted this fellow on a fence post on the side of a service road. We are still trying to get an id on him. If anyone knows, please leave a comment or send me an email!

- Paula