Dear Readers, I think I might be a little hooked on this bird photography caper. As my True Love took some annual leave in early August, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to take some short excursions around our local environs to check out the birds and other creatures.
The topic of this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge is Framing The Shot, so I thought I would choose a few bird photos to show you. My True Love is much better at framing his shots. Unlike me, he knows what he is doing. Because I am relative beginner in this field, I really only have one objective when I take photos and that is to get the subject in focus.
One day when I headed out on my own, I came across two Great Cormorants at our local park. I really wanted to share my excitement (via some photos) with you. However, the bright sun, and its reflection on the moving water, was causing me all sorts of problems getting the birds in focus. Also, I couldn’t get close enough to them which compounded the problem. Where was my True Love when I needed him? So I did the best I could. The photo is much darker than it was in real life. Nevertheless, I think it turned out rather arty farty — a real fluke, but a nice one.
According to Amy who set the challenge, framing can help direct the viewers’ eyes to where you want them to look. In my scramble to get the next shot, I might have gone overboard on the framing. Maybe I should have made the subject clearer?
Here is my True Love’s photo. The green, silver and gold accents which frame his photo just take my breath away. Same bird, same time. Two differently framed stories. Incidentally, some designers believe you shouldn’t mix gold and silver. Nature knows better.
Now for the darter. l had to snap quickly and hope for the best when we saw this juvenile darter in the distance.
Here’s my True Love’s photo of the darter.
?????
Woops. I am sure it would have been a great shot if that dang fisher-bloke hadn’t startled the darter. Oh well, maybe next time.
Stay tuned for more lovely bird photos from our recent holiday.
Kind Regards
Tracy
I love the Great Cormorant shot Tracy 🙂💜 They have such a distinctive silhouette it can work really well even when the light appears behind them 🙂💖 xxx
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I’ve never seen them before, Xenia. I also got some less artistic shots of them. They seemed to be a bit frisky. Ah, spring …. 🙂
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I love that one as well. They look as though they are poised to gracefully dive into the water.
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Thanks Liz. They did fly off not long after that when some children approached them.
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Enjoyed your story this week Tracy. Perhaps you should ask your TL to share some of his earliest photos😊. Bet he’s had a miss or two along the way! Loved the artsy-farts!
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Thanks Tina. That is probably true about my TL. 🙂 I’m so lucky to have him out in the field with me because he has a knack for spotting wildlife.
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You did great, Tracy! I am really loving that first photo.
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Thanks, Lois. They were showing off.
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I so enjoy you bird captures and stories. The first one is so cute. The image of the green, silver and gold accents is so beautifully framed, my favorite.
Thank you, Tracy for sharing! 🙂
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Hi Amy, thanks so much. I took quite a few photos over the last few days with your prompt in mind but for me, the bird photos were always my preferred choice. I’m so biased. 🙂 I’ll pass on your appreciation to my husband who took that beautiful wren photo. Kind regards. Tracy.
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Wonderful photos. I love that you are thinking about the shots With wildlife photography I’m a point, click lots and hope for the best photographer!
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Thanks Heather. Good approach. Snap first and then if you have time, maybe think about it. Works every time. 🙂
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…well almost…
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🙂
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Great photos. The second from last is my favorite. Nice depth of field and bokah.
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Thanks John. The light is so soft and lovely in that photo. Sigh. Wish I had taken that photo. I will pass on your comment to my TL.
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Looking forward to more winged photos!
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Thanks Sandy. More on the way. 🙂
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Oh, good! I never tire of our feathered friends in their infinite variety.
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Loved the photos, Tracy! Your True Love is definitely an excellent photographer.
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Thank you, Punam. If he wasn’t so shy, he could have his own site, but then I wouldn’t have anything to write about. Except for politics. 🙂
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You are welcome, Tracy. We are lucky we get to see wildlife through his lens on your blog. Aw, come on! You write very well and we do need someone to nudge our political conscience. 🙂
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I love these — I like the last one especially.
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Thank you, Martha. It is like some beautiful statue that you might see on a French esplanade.
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❤
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Framing the shot is certainly better than shooting the bird! Unless framing and shooting happens concurrently by doing it all through a lens. The true love missed the target with the dart(er).
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Haha. He did indeed, Abrie. Thank you for visiting. I’ve just had a look at your wonderful blog. So many wonderful stories there. Regards. Tracy.
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Excellent captures, Tracy!
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Thanks so much, Sue.
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My favorite is the second to the last one. I love the colors!
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That’s my favourite too, Liz. But then again, they are all my favourites. 🙂
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🙂
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The West Coast Cormorants are often seen at the mouth of the harbour perching on weed covered rocks or bobbing along on logs but seldom are seen preening dock side. Your Cormorants seem so tame. Are they? Super shots of an usually elusive pair.
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They are not tame at all, Sid. If they were, I think I probably would have seen them there before. The birds quickly scarpered when some young people approached them. Hopefully the cormorants have gone to a quieter part of our lake because I would like to see them again.
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I am really glad you’ve been hooked on photographing birds, Tracy – You do it so well, and we get the benefit of enjoying it with you!
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Thank you, Dries. The enthusiasm is contagious. 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoy taking photos of the birds, because I certainly enjoy looking at them!
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Thank you, Ann. Fortunately, I have many. 🙂
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Wow, wonderful shots, and a pleasure to see.
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Thank you, Paul. 🙂
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So good.
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Are there any future blogs on music planned? I very much enjoyed your last series!
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I haven’t given it any thought. I slip the occasional piece of music into a post, but a series? I’m still recovering from the last one. 🙂
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Lovely photos!
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Thank you, Stuart. That’s very kind of you.
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I would vote for an encore as well!
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🙂 I’ll try to oblige, Liz.
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– I can see why you are hooked on the bird photos – you do them so well – wonderful post
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Thank you very much. It’s my pleasure to share them with you and others.
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😊
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I never think much about what I’m doing with my camera either, Tracy – if it’s sharp, it’s good. 😄 Love the cormorans and their long shadow on the pier, it looks like they’re about to take off into the setting sun.
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Thanks Sarah. They did take off not long after because some young adults felt they had to interfere with the romance.
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“To get the subject in focus.” That’s a pretty solid goal, one that can be achieved in many ways. You’ve been doing well in this area for a long time.
Framing is everything but also an eye for what’s interesting.
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Thank you, Sharon. 🙂
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