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DIY Challenge #5: Shoot birds but beak careful

April 5, 2020

Only the head is red on the Red-bellied Wood Pecker.

The easiest way to do this is when there’s a bird feeder within range of your camera. Just set the camera on a tripod, and fill the frame with the feeder. Use auto focus on the feeding station, then lock in the focus by changing it to manual. To fill the frame with the feeder as the subject, use the longest focal length you own. This could help you determine whether (or not) you could use more lens. Whatever the focal length, it will have to suffice now since who’s going to bake sales?

Remember to set the WB for the prevailing light color. Shoot in A or Av with the maximum aperture, and dial in a rather high ISO (800) just to keep a high shutter speed.

Image 1: Find and photograph a bird in a tree. Use Shutter priority (S or Tv) to set a speed that’s fast enough to keep the bird in the shot.

Image 2: Focus on a feeder, then set your camera and longest lens on a tripod as listed above. Switch to decafe if you’re like a soon-to-be-retired dentist who’s running out of patients.

Once you have taken both pictures Attach both images in jpeg format to an email and send to jack@jackcarlsonphotos.com.

New Rule:  Images may be from any place where you can find  bird brains. Immediate or extended family members do not qualify.

  Old Rules:

  1. I know what some of you are thinking, but no dice: POST-PRODUCTION IS STILL NOT ALLOWED for the images you send.
  2. While this isn’t a structured class, it’s the same instructor.
  3. Feel free to send questions/comments or a recipe for peanut butter cookies in the note that accompanies your images

 

 

 

Filed Under: DIY Photo Challenge

Weekly Photo Tip

Get an Infrared Filter to create snow

 

Infra-red filter creates eerie snow effect.

Magnus, the faithful camera clubhouse cat, thoughtfully dropped a B+H gift card in my Christmas stocking. I used the card to order an Infrared (IR) filter which, as you will remember knocks out all wavelengths of light below the filter rating. In this case, all light below 930nm doesn’t make it through the filter, and the wavelengths that do make it require 2 1/2 minutes of exposure time. This filter is so dark red, the composing and focusing must be done before the filter is attached to the front of the lens. In addition to a tripod and ballhead, it helps to have gloves and a mug of some type of warm liquid to keep hands and insides warm while walking around behind the camera for those 150 seconds while the shutter is open.

IR filters come in varying strengths which affect the price. Mine wasn’t priced in the low-end promo department, but the effects it creates are both enjoyable and worth the price. Get one and see for yourself.

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About Jack

A classically trained musician since childhood, Jack Carlson always had the “ear” of an artist. It was only a short step to develop the artist’s “eye” as well.

The portfolio of this certified photographer reveals images that emphasize mood and composition. Their purpose is to present a feeling in addition to portrayal of person, place or thing. Sometimes that feeling is nostalgia; other times it is serenity.

Each photograph tells a story.

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Jul 9
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