Friday, March 10, 2023

[Don]

Good morning - raining here this morning and cool. Temps are getting a little more seasonal.

Yesterday DW and I went up to West Point Dam to do some birding and later went to a winery for lunch. Lots of bird activity. I was trying out using auto ISO on my cameras and didn't have a lot of luck. Most of my photos were with my D500 and turned out grainy because the ISO was too high. I need to check my settings and my technique. Anyway, here are a few of the bird photos I took. You can tell I have to just about over process to get rid of the noise.

First is a Bluebird with a snack. We saw a boatload of Cedar Waxwings too. Last is a Chipping Sparrow in winter plumage.

All in all a good day. Today I expect will be an indoor day with the rain and thunderstorms going on right now.

[Dave]

Beautiful captures, Don. I especially like the shot of the two Cedar Waxwings, because I've always admired their handsome patterning and coloring. Regrettably, I've seen then just one time out here.

Raining here today too - not very much at the moment but the forecast has it continuing until mid-morning tomorrow.

No new photos by me in the last day or two so here's a sunrise over the back parking area of our neighborhood mall, from 4 or 5 mornings ago...

   

[Luv2shoot]

Good morning, Guys.
I just finished shoveling snow.  Predictions were a lot worse than expected and it was rather nice out there.  The temperature was 31 and no wind.  So, it was pleasant with clean fresh air.  It was rather enjoyable.  

Don, Those are some pretty good-looking bird shots even though I can understand why you are unsatisfied with them.  Other subjects we take can be soft and sill make the cut, but for some reason, I like seeing the feathers on birds being sharp and well-defined.  But I do not think you had a choice with the overcast lighting that you were dealing with except to up your ISO, otherwise, the movement of the birds would have created a blur.  You did good, all things considered. That being said, your compositions, natural colors, and exposures on all of them are great. My favorite is the multi-waxwing shot of the birds.  That is something different and fun to look at. I have never seen a waxwing bird, so I enjoy looking at yours. 
Thanks for starting our daily.

Dave, Here is another where the poles and power lines "make the photo".  I love silhouette of the pattern they create. Good eye, Dave.

Next week I will be gathering with friends at out camera club.  It I shall start to share some of my photos with you that I plan on submitting for the "Slide Show".  I guess that term as become extinct. 

This photo is for the category, NATURE.
I posted two versions, one is ALL IN FOCUS (the top one)  and the other as a BLUR AND A BLOOM (the bottom one).
Let me know which you like better.
Thanks, I appreciate your feedback.
LORELL

[Don]

Good afternoon Lorell and Dave. Nice sunrise Dave. I like the diagonal of the utility poles and lines, even though you would think it would lead the eye out of the photo. For me, it didn't do that, just added interest.

Lorell, hard choice between the 2 images. I think maybe, for me, I like the second one a bit better as the eye seems to be drawn to the in focus area. Both are nice though.

Rain here has stopped for now, but may get some more. Doesn't matter to me because apparently I have picked up a bit of a stomach bug so I will be staying inside today anyway.

I did see where I messed up on my D500 though. I had it set for auto ISO but I had the max ISO set at 12,500, the same as my Z6. It should have been no more than 4000. I changed it so maybe next time I will get better results. Oh, I did hear that NIKON had release the specs for the Z cameras to Sigma and Tamron, so I am hoping that soon a "super" zoom will be available for the Z6. I love the D500 but it will be so nice to have a longer lens for the Z6 and have a lighter weight rig.