The original background was just plain grey, so I used skeletal mess texture "oil painting 1" on it and then blurred it using gaussian blur in photoshop. It made this starling really pop. I think these birds are gorgeous. Love their coloring. He's about 12 feet in front of me and I'm shooting through a glass window.
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Tags: blurred background skeletal mess texture jody trappe dog ma bird starling
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He's a red tailed hawk and an educational bird, down at the Raptor Trust, in Millington, NJ.
He'll never fly again, but he earns his keep, by aiding in teaching children about raptors.
This was a private photo shoot for about 14 photographers.
Tags: red-tailed hawk Pepe dog ma jody trappe nikon d300 nikkor 300mm bird portrait
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I added the two hummingbirds from Glorious Nature Art Collection as well as a bokeh texture called Rosey. I also added Elements Dark in blue, pink and gold. I have so much fun playing with textures.
EXPLORE #438
Glorious Nature Art textures and overlays. I bought another set of textures by Isabelle Lafrance which I will be delving into tomorrow.
I have over a thousand pics on my site and I've never had so many invites on one picture!! Thank you all so very much. Your invites and comments are greatly appreciated!!
Tags: purple lavender Glorious Nature Art texture overlay art bokeh dog ma Susan Gray textures hummingbirds flowers birds impressedbeauty MagicUnicornVeryBest MagicUnicornMasterpiece
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I seem to post a hummingbird on my birthday every year, so I'm sticking with tradition. =) My last in this little hummer series... till next we meet again...
I'm short on time right now, but for those who are interested... I will explain how I capture these birds in the next day or so... =)
OK... finally... a free minute! Please forgive the delay, but I'm in the heart of my busy pet sitting business. Go, go, go...
#1. Find or create an active feeder. You have to know they are coming or you'll get really board waiting. LOL! At this feeder, they come anywhere from 20-45 minutes apart, so when they come, I am ready!
I'm using a nikkor 300mm f4 prime lens. I prefer prime lenses because they are so much sharper than a zoom.
Put a glass of water on the kitchen table... now stare at it for 2 hours! That's basically what I do only it's a feeder outside. If you take your eyes off it, you could easily miss the only opportunity you're going to have for a while. So PAY ATTENTION! You don't have to stare directly at the feeder at all times, but you eyes should be scanning it at least every 30 seconds because when they come, you only have about 3-4 seconds if you're lucky to get the shot.
#2. I use a gimble head on my tripod. This is crucial to getting them in focus. This allows me the freedom of movement yet keeps the camera still when I stop moving it. I keep the friction semi tight because when I shoot, I don't want it to keep moving. Does that make sense?
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#3. This one was shot on an overcast day. Therefore it was very slow (1/80) and I got great movement in the wings. On a sunny day, you'll get more light, stopping the action of the wings.
#4. The birds tend to fly down close to the feeder, then dip into it for a drink, back up about 6 inches, then dip in for another drink and then a third time the same. Then off they go until the next drink. Here's what I do:
I wait for them to take a drink, than as they back up, I am using my left hand as assistance to the auto focus. These birds move so fast the auto focus can't handle it on it's own. Once I pick the spot where they back up to... I STAY IN THIS SPOT, cuz they usually hit it again or at least close to it. I don't want the feeder in the picture but if I catch some of it, I photoshop it out.
FOCUS AT THE EYE! Always, always aim at the head! With out that in focus, the shot is ruined.
#5. Be patience... stay focused and when you get that first shot in focus... reap the joy!!! I know I do! Good Luck! Any questions feel free to ask.
#6. I've been shooting in the spot for years. One of my pet sitting client houses. I started out about six feet away, but now I'm closer to four. It's not like I can really hide from them. They can see me from above. But I put a wicker chair in front of my tripod so all they see when they are at the feeder is my head and my camera. =)
Tags: ruby throated hummingbird bird inflight dog ma Jody Trappe 300mm gimble head tripod
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Still on my bird kick.... I think he's adorable. I don't often see the red finch, but there were six of them on this day, so I got 'em good.
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Tags: red finch bird dog ma
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