In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
Sister Ginny joined us after a 10 hour day of sighting in Mexico City. Walid Ginny’s husband knows how to show us around.
Next on the agenda is dinner at 7:30.
I spent a most enjoyable visit in the Phoenix Museum viewing Scott Baxter’s photo collection titled “100 Years 100 Ranchers” as well as watching a video interview of Scott with some of the 5th generation ranchers that made me happy to see history being documented by such an interested Photographer.
“For over ten years Baxter has been traveling to ranches across the state (Arizona), getting to know the individual ranchers and their operations.”
Google Scott’s website as I will when I return home.
I’m leaving tomorrow morning for Mexico City where I’ll meet my sisters Leila and Ginny. Unfortunately my brother Don won’t be joining us as he just had knee surgery. I love being with my family. Meeting my sisters and traveling with them and their husbands will feel like I’m traveling with Mom and Dad again where I don’t have to generate a plan and implement it. I will arrive and all will be planned. No decisions really. I’m off duty and get to follow everyone’s lead. This is heaven for me. I’m excited.
I will miss my hubby though.
My sisters! Ginny and Leila.
Jen's favorite of the dance pose in Yoga.
My favorite of Jen because I see the joy in her face, and, her hands come alive.
Neither Jen nor I could decide which we liked better of this and the next photo. I like seeing Jen's expression in this photo and again, her hands always show respect and joy for movement.
This shot is better in that more of her silhouette is visible in the composition but I remember how long I made her hold this pose while I was fiddling with the settings.
Just when we thought we couldn't have any more fun shooting we both simutaneously starting kicking one leg up, then the next leg as we neared the end of our morning hike. I couldn't pass up shooting my favorite thing, shadows.
I wish I had a photographer next to me to answer all the questions I seem to have while shooting the egrets the past couple of days.
I’ve started taking notes, hoping maybe something will come to me on my own about how I can do better with my exposures while trying to stop action in low light without upping the ISO so much.
EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS (IS off-on tripod) USM +2.0x
2 stops lost using the 2.0 X teleconverter
Needed this ISO 1250 (Kept this ISO consistent for the entire shoot)But this ISO wasn’t even getting me anything.
Fast shutter speed (800) necessary to stop bird motion but then I needs wide open aperture which totally limits dof and total bird focus impossible.
Using this lens and converter on a shady morning is near impossible to get my single subject in focus.
Shot mostly at 1/800 sec, f/5.6 @ ISO 1250 at 400mm – photos too dark
Those photos shot at 1/640 sec are a bit lighter, but I still need to figure out if I can even use this gear combo in low light.
1/500 sec at f/6.3 and 265mm lighter but almost too washed out/lacking contrast.
1/2000th sec at f/7.1 270mm Tried aperture priority for a blink of an eye. Got confused.
1/800th at f/13 320mm – when it got a little lighter, but still overcast.
1/640th at f/13th 400mm – better.
Photos are exposed correctly for the white birds but the overall shot is too dark and drab.
The white egrets are difficult to shoot because of the extreme range in light and dark.
Next time I shoot the egrets:
Treat shooting the egrets to learn. Take a series of different exposures of the same shot to study and learn from the exposures in post.
Up and out early dark but the color was hidden by the clouds right after this early shot. The workers had their lights on the machines used for cutting the greens.
I cropped and blew this photo up to show the fish the egrets eat.
I Need This Plate!
The girls: Jen and Melissa were all giggles shooting off iPhone photos as we were driving home from a visit to REI. Yes, LR, I know I’ve been spending way too much money lately:-)
They made me take my eyes off the road for the photo.
Melissa shot off this beauty as we experienced a beautiful sunset. And me without a card in my camera....ARG. Then I remembered I could shoot the sunset with my iPhone, except mean Melissa, who was late to an evening event, really didn't want to stop for photos.
Just for the record, Mary Kay join Ann, Melissa and me on our morning hike.
The Egrets are restless and for the last two days they have been very active throughout the daylight hours in and around the 15th hole lake right outside our window. I went out with my 400mm lens on the 5D Mark II. I stopped shooting because my right hand was so sore after having shot off over 500 shots.
From inside my home I watched the birds for 10 minutes without picking up my camera and shooting (per they plan for the next week). But I see now that doesn’t count……sitting inside and watching for 10 minutes.
It never dawned on me until I was viewing shots later in Lightroom that I’d set up and was shooting into the dark side of the birds for the most part (opposite side of where the sun was hitting the birds). It’s the golfers fault though. It’s the season and the golfers just keep playing all day long, and the only open area I could stand and not get hit, (Ray told me about the spot and how the course marshals had let fishermen fish there) and not be in the golfers way, forced me to remain stationary with little freedom to shoot from a better vantage point. With all that said I had not realized when I was shooting I lacked the right light to bring out good color. I did enjoy the backlighting though. Too bad fill in flash doesn’t go so far.
I googled egrets and their behavior. I went to JC Compton’s site. He shows and tells much of the story of the mating dance that must be going on right now. I like JC’s photos.
After reading JC’s description of the Egret’s behavior I’m going to have to pay more attention to whether the birds are fighting for food, courting or having sex.
The birds are within 100 yards of our home. Not bad.
I spent too much time on photography today and not anywhere near enough time on the list I had on my desk of things that needed to get done. But……..I had a good day:-)
The beginning of a short window of color on our hike this morning.
It's at about this vantage point on our hike that the color, if we have color, is a perfect photo backdrop. The girls know I'm going to ask them to assume some unique pose. This morning Jen does a handstand on some rocky ground while Ann holds her vertical for THE shot.
Jen and Ann. Jen was getting a little nervous about being late for work, but still stopped with Ann because the color had peaked as we resumed hiking since the previous shot. We were out of ideas and didn't have much time to think of any. The girls just started being silly as they jumped around. THIS was THE shot.