Photography

Musky the zombies are craaaazy! LOL
Fred, That is a breath takingly beautiful picture.
Katkat, that looks like the amazingly pretty New England.

Fantastic shots peeps!

I went out with my best buddy today hunting for funghi. Here's just three of the hundreds of shots I took.... :-D

 

Hi Musky, yes, it is indeed toxic, (Fly agaric - Amanita Muscaria) although some people indulge in them regardless esp since they cracked down on the use of lib caps...it's just a gamble... the toxicity can vary from season to season and most people aren't aware of that fact. I'm just happy to photograph them :-D

Here's a couple from the last couple days... The third picture I have called "Moon Fruit"

 

Thankyou katkat

 

That's a wonderful sunset. Musky!!!!

 

Musky I don't think I ever get notofications when someone posts to this thread... I never saw this pic of your woodie until now! I had to look and find the thread again. That looks VERY simialr to our Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. Which type is it please?

I went out yesterday for a little walk to a local church and a Robin redbreast was singing in the ruins, in a tree. I got alot of good shots, here's one...

 

Great pics folks, nice to see some really artistic pictures.

Emma in the mushroom ones of yours is that a bite I see out of one of the red ones

 

Very nice shot, Em.

What kind of camera did you get?

 

The Flyagaric are very poisonous, Dave... LOL I didn't nom on it.

LauraR... My Dad got me a Canon Powershot SX510 for Christmas, which is an upgrade over my Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 in the way that it has more zoom. The Lumix is magic for macro's though, kick's erse off the Canon.. :-D

 

Very nice, Em! It takes beautiful pictures based on your bird one.

Awww...cute. They look like little foxes.

A nice bundle. I'm a Nikon snob though. :-D Once you go one way, you really can't go back since you end up with lenses that only fit one manufacturer.

You can look at the used prices for the Body/18-55mm kit on amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Canon-Digit...420209543&sr=8-1&keywords=Canon+EOS+Rebel+T3i

 

Awesome comments! I'm laughing here at the idea of using a broom handle but actually it's VERY clever. My partner was going to construct something similar for me. I don't like the idea of tripods either Musk...I couldn't be bothered lugging that round on one of my walks out birding.. the monopod idea was suggested to me by someone else, so yea Fred, nice!

Those dogs are lovely Musk, they DO look like foxes actually. You are wanting a DSLR musk? Don't know if I mentioned it before but it's what I'm trying to work my way up to, too. I have been told though that I need to use this bridge cam and get used to it before I can handle a full DSLR...

Those woodpecker pics are great!!

Thanks Laura, my quality of shots have gone up a few per cent indeed since the upgrade. I have had awful weather here today rain wise and so have stayed in the house leaning out the window getting shots of birds. :-D

At one point I went to use the bathroom and thought I'd open window to see what was out there if anything...and damn me smallest bird in Britain RIGHT in front of me... ran upstairs for cam and managed to get a blurry shot. Can't win 'em all :-D

 

I'm a bit of a photog nut myself...

Here's a couple recent ones.

 

Awesome! Let us know how it turns out!!

Well, you could decide on the day what you would rather do, macro shots or long distance, and just take the one! That's how I'm planning it when I DO finally, finally get one... :-D Can't wait.

That was a bit risky.... LOL

:-D Barry....

CP... those are incredible macro shots, real vivid and colourful. Love them. Didn't know you were into photography at all! Nice!

Sorry Dya...this cracked me up... LOL

@ Musksnipe...that's a great shot you posted last too! Love the B&W! It really brings out details sometimes!

My contribution for today... a Blue Tit on my telephone wire feeder on a rather wet and miserable day...

 

Some more awesome pics posted.

CP, I love your macros. Great focus.

You all are crazy.....Tripods = a must

DSLRs all have Auto mode. Most also come with a kit lens (usually a pretty wide zoom...mine was 24mm to 105mm) that is usually pretty good depending on the level of the camera. There is really no transition into DSLR when it comes to ability. The transition comes when you start to shoot off Auto mode. Once you do, its one of those things where you'll never go back. As far as changing out lenses, if you are going off on a day thing, you are better off taking one lens and working with it (as Kestrel mentioned). It'll make you see things differently...especially if you are used to working with a bunch of lenses. Being able to switch is a crutch in a lot of ways.

Here's some of my more recent ones (I need to get out some time).

 

Oh, and this one is for Em. My summer mockingbird. He lives in my yard and chases away all the other birds. He is having a fit in this picture because of my boxer, Oscar. :-D

 

Oh Laura, those are some fantastic captures....!! I love them all, but the one of the silver Christmas tree by the pool is particularly eye catching. Remind me what camera model you have again (ridiculous memory!!)
You take some super shots.

And the mocking bird is a whole diff post I didn't see that til after! That one is my fave over the tree of course!! You can even see the little whiskers round his beak there's so much detail!! Well taken.

With regards to DSLR's are you saying it's best to come off auto mode and get used to Manual?

 

My best shot with my new cam so far... my resident Robin Red Breast. (a male) His name is Robbie, and that's him on his tree stump surrounded by beautiful purple jelly disc fungi.

 

Beautiful color you got there with the robin, Em.

And thank you. I have a Nikon DSLR.

And an emphatic yes on the manual!!! LOL If you shoot a dslr on auto, it's really no different than shooting anything else in regards to ease of use. Your goal should always be to go manual. You will always get much better pictures because you are shooting at the ideal (or that's your goal, anyway) setting depending on what you want your finished result to be. Auto is great for being able to snap a shot while hand holding a camera. Usually they are not the settings you want, though, if you become really serious about photography.

 

Photography is the perfect form of art....whether you decide to take a snapshot of your newly born baby or go out and spend an hour in order to take a breathtaking landscape shot that will make people gasp when they see it (my goal LOL).

Doesn't matter the level of ability of the shot...it's the reaction you want from an 'Awww' to a *gasp*. If you love taking pictures, that's all that matters, and it normally comes through. Here are two examples. These are shots my 11 year old nephew took with his iphone. Personally I think they are pretty great. The one on the dining room table is his dog and the one that I take care of every day while they work (I call him my day care dog...or Buckley :-D). The one with the ears is my mom and dad's dog Max. My nephew was throwing him snowballs to catch. LOL

 

That's awesome that it's making you want to get your cam out, Barry! And Musky, I will post a shot of an old "Agfa" I have later... LOL REAL retro...

 

That's where art happens, you could spend hours setting up a shot, when the a candid spur of the moment shot is awesomely better!

I was taught photography, while I did an art degree and while working for Kodak, but you can be taught till the cows come home, the very essence of art and photography is being different, different angles (yes rule of 3rds still apply's today for commercial and ohhh artistic) different approaches, I find in some instances in the case of kids as they wont pose at times, is to catch them un-aware be lying on the floor in wait (like a caged tiger) or just lean over and get their faces in with a candid.

I have always thought the best pics are staged or thought of within 5mins.

Some great pics in this thread and the angles, staging and just timing is perfect.

 

Great Firework shot Muskie.

 

Damn....that's survival mode. Not for me!!

 

Musky, what is that structure's purpose? I cannot believe how frozen it is!! Those are incredible pictures. I LOVE the ducks, and the fireworks shot is impressive!!

 

A couple of Wintery scenes from a Nature Reserve. Visited on Sunday.

 

Hope it was worth the log in, Musk..... roflmao