While I have been birding as long as I can remember, I am relatively new to photographing birds. Now that I’ve finally moved into the world of digital cameras. I’ve become a picture taking fool. Some of my photos are even decent shots, and I love the surprises I get once the pictures have been loaded onto the computer.
The hobby of birdwatching is one gigantic challenge. Your subjects are always on the move, they have different plumages at different times of year, they hide in the shrubbery etc etc. The challenge is why most of us love it.
Combine birdwatching with the challenge of learning how to work a new camera, and you clearly have challenge-overload.
A recent trip to Nevada provided me with the chance for some desert birdwatching, and an opportunity to figure out this wonderful new piece of equipment.
I decided that just as beginning birdwatchers are encouraged to start with ducks, I would do the same with my new camera.
However…
Trying to photograph diving ducks presented me with a whole swack of challenges at the same time. Winter plumage diving ducks, plus a new camera with many unknown buttons provided a wealth of blurry birds and some colorful language.
When I uploaded my pictures though, I discovered some that I wanted to share with my readers.
This is an Eared Grebe ripple
This is a Ruddy Duck ripple
And if those aren’t impressive enough…
There is a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in here
An Abert's Towhee is thrashing through here
Clearly, I need to spend waaaay more time outdoors, looking for birds and practicing with my new camera. What a pity.
Thanks for the comments on my ripple pictures! I’ve heard from a LOT of people who have similar shots, but they never thought of putting them up on a blog. We all agree it’s nice to know we all have company when it comes to taking ‘no-bird’ shots!
I was laughing out loud looking at the pictures of ripples! I have lots of those too. I also have about 200 shots of bare branches where Black-capped Chickadees were perched a second before. They seem to know exactly when you are going to press the button. And my Marsh Wrens photos look like a series that should be called “Everything there is to know about cattails.”
hee hee..I love this post…We should all be brave and show our …humm..where did the bird go photos…
you r crackin me up
That is so funny. I know exactly how you feel. There is definitely a learning curve with a new camera. Looking forward to seeing the pictures when the birds are in it!
What a great post!
“This is a Ruddy Duck ripple”, I think you developed another field of study, duck ripples, lol.
Ha ha this is very funny. I love the photos.
I can relate to them all. I like taking photos of where the bird has been 1 second before. 🙂
You should be a comedian. I am. 🙂
cheers,
steve