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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 out with your macro lens

Shoot before you see it drop.

It’s a bit of a challenge to use a macro lens in any setting but the frustration level increases once your outside. I found this out yesterday when shooting  icicle pictures for this Sunday’s Macro Seminar. While all the usual focus and metering problems continue to act as possible plagues to any close-up image, they are compounded by cold. Use gloves that have fold-back fingers so you will be much more in control of the focus setting. Also remember to know the close-focus distance for your lens since exceeding it will blur the image. What works for me is to make no big plans when out with the macro lens so I encourage you to also think small.

For more winter photo tips, check out the February edition of Smart Garden on the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) website. You never guess who’s featured. www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/smart_gardener_0

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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.

Upcoming dates

  1. NEW! Signs of Spring Class–back by student request–Starts April 17

    April 17 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

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