Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Proud to Be Me
‹ Previous10 Years of NPN GalleryNext ›

Proud to Be Me

by Carol Nichols

Gallery: 10 Years of NPNPosted April 24, 2010383 views7 comments
Last year I started to take avian photos and this is the first image I took that I really like. I always see so many amazing bird photos in the Avian Gallery, it made me think I could do it too. Little did I know how difficult bird photography is! First, so many birds (in Florida anyways) are white and they always seem to be right in front of a dark background. An exposure nightmare. Second, they come and go without notice. You have to know your camera inside and out, be able to react quickly and have an incredible amount of patience. It has proven to be quite a challenge, but I feel like I'm making progress thanks in large part to the tips from other bird photographers on NPN.

Critiques and comments are very welcome and appreciated. Thanks for looking!

Canon 5D
300mm f/4L IS
1/500, f/9.0, ISO 500
4-18-09
8:16am

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 24, 2010 at 3:51 PM
Yup, everything you said is true! That's why the Avian photography is, to me, the most challenging - SO VERY many variables that have to come together well.

Spectacular pose here, perfect handling of the whites, good comp and nice BG. Perhaps a bit too cenetered, but this is personal preferecne and surely not a requirement.

You're really doing wonderfully, and I love seeing your progress also. Sure glad you're here with us!!
:toast: :toast:

Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on April 25, 2010 at 2:01 AM
If this is the first avian image you took , then you can do wonders! :biggrin:
Jagdeep Rajput :toast:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on April 25, 2010 at 9:48 AM
Awesome image! My dream is to be able to take a bird in flight that is tack sharp. So far it hasn't happened. :toast:
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Smith on April 25, 2010 at 11:30 PM
What wonderous lighting! And that pose! Exquisite.
Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 27, 2010 at 12:00 PM
That avian photography is so darn difficult is just one of the reasons I love landscape photography! Never had a tree get up and fly off on me! :biggrin: The other reason is the expense of that long glass! Regardless, this is a fine catch, perfectly exposed. Excellent work Carol.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 30, 2010 at 10:01 AM
Large view looks superb, perfect exposure of the whites & a wonderful pose too :toast: :toast:
Very nice Carol!
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Laura Stafford on May 17, 2010 at 10:02 PM
Stunning. I love the composition. I like how the foreground is in focus and frames the bird, but the background is slightly out of focus.

Laura Stafford
Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments