I really appreciate everyone’s responses! Thank you all for the compliments on my pictures and for the support. It means a lot to me. I swear, birders are the nicest people in the world. I wasn’t sure how to go about responding to everyone, but I wanted to make sure each one of you knew I read and appreciated your posts – so I’ve written to each of you in a massive message. ^_^
Crybirder:
Thanks for the recommendations on SDLRs!.It is such a relief to know that a better camera can help, though I’ve done some contemplation and with some of the advice I received here I think I can improve at least some of the shots with my Canon S3 IS. I’ve added both types of DSLRs and lenses you recommended to my wish-list (i.e. a note on my very empty piggy bank). ^_^ It’s good to know that with an DSLR I could shoot with a 400 ISO and not get much noise… I took a picture of a black bear at the DE Water Gap, NJ and I had to use 400 ISO to be able to see it properly but it’s got much more noise in it than I like (my boyfriend thought I had shot it with 800 ISO!). Mind you, we both still love this shot! Thanks for the compliments on my photos too. I feel almost bipolar about it sometimes – one day I’m proud of my pictures, another day I go online and get completely envious and frustrated. I’m glad that you and so many others can relate too – that I’m not alone. I went to your gallery on Flickrs and didn’t comment because I’m not a member (yet) but Wow! Beautiful shots! I started making a list of my particular favorites to mention here, but it got too long. ^_^ Btw, I always take pictures in burst mode, taking at least 7 pictures in a row, but usually more like 20 and sometimes probably close to 100. The problem is that if the subject is far away I can’t really tell that I’ve not got it in focus until I look at the pictures – so I end up with 20 blurry pictures. V_V Thanks for your help!
Birdseye:
The high ratings on my camera are kind of what made me thing that I was doing something wrong… Thank you for complimenting my pictures. ^_^ I always try to shoot in continuous burst – I was so happy when I realized my camera did that! For AWB, I tend to adjust it depending on whether I want the image to be more cool or warm (cloudy or sun setting). When I tried the AWB setting in the woods, it often makes the image rather blue. I’ll check on the other settings, as I’m not sure what I have set for the metering, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t have the stabilizer set to panning (but continuous instead). A lot of my settings I picked because of this book I’m using called Digital Nature Photography the Art and the Science by John and Barbara Gerlach – but I’ve not gotten very far through it yet – trying to make sure I learn each part before moving on. Good idea about aiming at the brightest spot on the seagull, as the camera will set the exposure so it’s not so bright – I do that with sky shots, but haven’t yet for birds. I haven’t tried the invaluemeter (sp?) – Probably because I’m not sure what it is. ^_^ I’ll look it up though and give it a try. Thanks so much for the suggestions!!!
Thekiwi
I hear you on how the image processing of the camera can really mess with a shot. From what I read in my afore-mentioned book, the processing a camera does also affect how much you can edit the image with software like Photoshop. My camera doesn’t give me the option to save Raw files – big bummer. It saves everything as a JPEG and I read that you can lose continuous tones and such by trying to edit JPEGS – so I’ve just been trying to get the best shots I could straight from the camera with no processing other than a very occasional brightening or fixing red-eye. I’ll definitely try to focus on the subject’s head and eyes… though most of my subjects are very far away from me so that can be an additional challenge. I almost always use ‘burst mode’ on my camera now (even for family events which annoys people to no end) and it allows me to take rapid pictures in succession by keeping the button down – I also sometimes don’t get a good shot from it and it is SO frustrating! It also gives a lot of extra pictures to weed through, but it’s always worth it for even just one good shot! I’m not too familiar with Photoshop, but my boyfriend is, so maybe he can help me. I saw your gallery (beautiful images) and thanks for posting that before and after - I see how the editing made your shots even more beautiful. I’ll definitely keep this option in mind and I’ll visit that tutorial you posted too.
Valleygirl
I think we share the same mantra “I can’t afford it, I can’t afford it”. I’m about ready to cover myself in bird seed to get better shots. ^_^ I felt pretty overwhelmed by my camera when I first got it – I hadn’t had a camera at all since I was a child and that was just a simple point and shoot with film, no zoom, no options – kind of like a disposable one. Then I get THIS monster and am like “What have I Done!?” Luckily I read through the manual some, looked up info online some, messed around with it on my own some and finally got a book to help – and I’ve managed to figure out a lot more of the setting options. (Now of course I want something even more complex!) I won’t give up, don’t give up either!
Norman_24
Thanks for the photo praise! I’ll be saving up slowly for a DSLR, and I just researched the Canon XTi you mentioned… $685 including a lens is much more do-able! And 10 mega pixels will be much better than my current 6 mp (I love big prints). Thanks for the tip both about the camera body and the importance of the glass! I do feel a bit intimidated in getting a DSLR with all the types of glass, how to choose, etc. I also take lots of family pictures but then a hawk will appear as a spot in the sky and I’ll desperately want to know what it is. ^_^’ I’m sure that by the time I’m seriously able to purchase a DSLR and lenses, I’ll have gotten some idea of what lenses I’d need through some research. Good thing I recently renewed my library card. ^_^ Thanks for the links! I’ll be sure to use them!
Rdatkins
I’ve been trying to appreciate even being around these great animals, let alone being able to photograph them. (I’m also becoming very aware of how expensive and at times cumbersome the pro equipment can be!!!) But I’ve also become enamored with the art of it all and wanted to be able to capture the beautiful scenes and action shots the way I saw them, so I could relive it by glancing at my wall or digital album. Sometimes the subject ISN’T all that far away, but the lighting isn’t right and, let’s face it, they just don’t sit still – this usually results with blurry pictures and frustration. I’ll try to at least enjoy the challenge though – besides, if I got a good shot on my first couple of tries, I’d run out of things to photograph (and excuses to go to well-loved photo spots) fast!
Chris,
I’m really glad you like my photos and thanks for the very kind words, I’m very flattered. I’m relieved to know that point and shoot cameras are just nosier and you made a lot of sense about comparing my pictures to the pros. I didn’t really consider what went in to getting those professional shots – the hours trying to get one publishable picture, etc. (I also like to whip around taking pictures of anything and everything that comes my way, shooting hundreds of yet unorganized pictures ^_^) I also didn’t realize that ANY lenses cost $10,000 – ones that were still on earth and not taking pictures of Jupiter anyway. ^_~ I do tend to get REALLY into my hobbies – I liked videogames, so I became a working video game designer, I like writing so I’m working on a book I hope to get published, I like photography so here I am trying to get as good as possible. I really don’t want to loose the fun I get out of photography. I’m going to be blogging about my recent second trip to the DE Water Gap soon, and I had a great time seeing new “life” birds and great new animals… but ended up griping because I missed a shot of an eagle flying really close by. It didn’t ruin the trip, but it sure has been gnawing at me. I’ll try to focus on the fact that I even got to SEE the eagle at all (my first bald eagle, yay!!!!) and try to chill out a bit when it comes to the perfectionist stuff.
Geminiluna
I’m glad this has been helpful to you too. I was already overwhelmed when I got my camera and couldn’t imagine wanting a DSLR. Now I’m in the ‘completely lusting after one’ phase, but I think the perspectives provided here have helped me shift from wanting a 20 foot long lens to something with a little more control and oomph than my current camera provides. Good point about having the point and shoot handy too!
Mint5jf
Thanks for sharing about the kinds of cameras you have been using and how upgrading the camera can actually help out! ^_^ Thanks for the luck and happy photography to you too!
Finally!
Again, thanks to each and every one of you who posted (I won’t be doing another massive reply though, so thanks in advanced to anyone else who posts.) I really needed this discussion and it’s given me a lot to learn, think about, appreciate and prioritize.
Dovekie
