Many readers enjoyed the American Black Duck photo in the last blog, "Be There," and several asked me about the EXIF or image file data. Here's the photo once again. And here's the data: Canon EOS R5 EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III lens 700mm f/8 1/2000s 1600 ISO. Here, also, are some of … Continue reading A Few Photo-Worthy Moments
Category: Street photography
Consider The Background
We brought up "best quality photos" in the last blog. I noted there that many had blurred backgrounds and that those backgrounds may have accounted for the higher ratings. I provided Josh Houck's Facebook photo (below) as an example. Folks on Facebook raved about it and responded to it. I responded in this way: "All … Continue reading Consider The Background
A Few Birds and a Fisherman
I've changed the blog tagline but not the name. "Personal notes and thoughts on bird activity—and human activity, too!—in and around SE Virginia" is now "Personal notes and thoughts on birds, bird photography, and, on occasion, human life." It's interesting. Since leaving the Coastal Plain of Virginia, I've said to myself and others a number … Continue reading A Few Birds and a Fisherman
Capturing Moments
I ended my last blog, "Old Friends," with the following quote: "And when confronted by a seemingly alien place, say a desert or mountain tundra, the birds carry me from confusion to understanding." The idea that birds can carry us from confusion to understanding is an intriguing and powerful one. Human Activity Folks have asked … Continue reading Capturing Moments
A Few Good Bird Photography Tips
Hi, everyone. I haven't written anything in a while because my wife and I are selling/moving/house-hunting. The process is all-consuming, as many of you know. We're leaving southeastern Virginia and heading to central PA. We're heading for the hills. At some point, I'll have to change the name of the blog. I'm considering "Susquehanna River … Continue reading A Few Good Bird Photography Tips
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
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, Cont’d
Many loved Joanne Howl's touching European Starling story in "A Life Lesson." One reader commented that it wasn't just a story about starlings, it was a "lesson about prejudice." I responded that she'd made a great point. Another reader commented that starlings were "hoodlums." I responded, "WE might be the real hoodlums." I don't think … Continue reading The Scuffletown Creek Hunters, Cont’d
End of Season Bird Photos and Photo Tips
Maybe we should just call this the "Green Heron Blog." I continue to devote a lot of space to that popular bird. I continue to devote a lot of space to photography, too. Stan, an 8th-grade teacher (and doing God's work), left a comment after reading "Birds Are Markers." Here's some of what he wrote: … Continue reading End of Season Bird Photos and Photo Tips
Birds Are Markers
Prior to his death in 1801 at Montpelier in Orange County, Virginia, James Madison Sr., the father our 4th president, James Madison Jr., kept a weather journal. He and other family members added garden observations in the margins. According to Hillary Hicks, who wrote "'A Paradise of Roses': Flowers at Montpelier," those observations were recorded … Continue reading Birds Are Markers
Elizabeth River Bird Blog 