I mentioned "f/8 and be there" at the end of "A Special Moment." A reader who'd never heard of it before sent me this: "I should put that on a T-shirt and wear it on every outing. Great advice!" I think it is great advice. F/8 has to do with photo gear and technique. Being … Continue reading Be There
Category: Photography gear
The Joy of Discovery
I began "A Few Words About Birds" this way: "A recent opinion piece in The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia’s largest daily newspaper, began with the words: 'First of all, thank you for reading.' I’d like to begin, here, the same way. First of all, thank you for reading. I mean that, sincerely." That was followed by a … Continue reading The Joy of Discovery
A Game-Changing Bird Photography Camera
We continue our review of the Canon EOS R5, which we began in "From Birds to Photo Gear." The EOS R5 and its less well-appointed sibling, the EOS R6, were recently introduced. We'll touch on the camera's eye detection ability and its high-resolution sensor. Please keep in mind that this isn't a professional review. It's … Continue reading A Game-Changing Bird Photography Camera
From Birds to Photo Gear
Some of you enjoyed my reference to Joni Mitchell's "Chelsea Morning" in "The Birds of Spring." And you also enjoyed the photo of the Ospreys there. I often think about Joni's song when I head out with my camera and it's the kind of morning where the sun is giving everything it touches a butterscotch … Continue reading From Birds to Photo Gear
Color Play
Below is a recent Song Sparrow photo and one of my favorites. I wrote in "Talkin' Bird Photography" that "photography is the pursuit of photos that work." This one does. The photo was an afterthought. I was shooting in the same area where I'd photographed the immature Red-shouldered, and had wrapped up for the morning. … Continue reading Color Play
Photography Takeaways
Many of you enjoyed the last two blogs—blogs about a hunting Red-shouldered Hawk and a human hunting party. What follows are photography takeaways from the first of the two, "The Scuffletown Creek Hunters." Tread lightly. Birds are always aware of human presence. If you see birds in the field and you want to get closer … Continue reading Photography Takeaways
The Scuffletown Creek Hunters
Scuffletown Creek, an Elizabeth River tributary in Chesapeake, VA, was a mess. I wrote about it in "The Same River Twice." Dave and Lindsay, two old-timers who grew up nearby, remember houseboats in the creek, homes with outhouses lining the creek, and sewage and diesel fuel flowing into the creek. They remember tapping the creek … Continue reading The Scuffletown Creek Hunters
Stalking a Great Blue
It takes planning to create good images. That was one of the messages in "It's All About Light." What follows is a quick "planning" case study and story. On the morning of 10/15, the outdoor lighting was extraordinary. It met the quality-of-light test and then some. It was one of those mornings. I decided to … Continue reading Stalking a Great Blue
It’s All About Light
You know it's getting later in the fall when Yellow-crowned Night Herons have left the Mid-Atlantic, Red-tailed Hawk numbers are peaking at Cape May, and neighbors are soliciting fellow neighbors for unwanted pumpkins. An immature YCNH hung on in Chesapeake, VA until the end of October. Pardon me for using the alpha code there, but … Continue reading It’s All About Light
Anatomy of a Photo Shoot, Part Three
We all need to laugh, maybe now more than ever. These 3 young Green Herons have just seen their first round-tripper and are watching the baseball as it exits the park. Having just finished listening to a sometimes-impassioned discussion, this young Mallard is feeling better about returning to school. Let's Resume This is the third … Continue reading Anatomy of a Photo Shoot, Part Three
Elizabeth River Bird Blog 