Recent content by motso

This thread has inspired me to go out tomorrow and find some butterflies! In the meantime can anyone ID this moth? it's a bit dull but was quite large! Unfortunately my cat got hold of it, I think I saved it but couldn't ID it from the common species, any ideas? Tom

Once in a while you come across a thread that really helps - and this is such a thread for me! Presumably as the OP asked about Buzzards these methods only work with a bright background (sky), any tips for metering for birds with noisy backgrounds/on branches etc? Perhaps Centre weighted with...

You mean an 'artistic angle' surely!? I would be very happy if it were a Dartford Warbler as I haven't seen one of those before, seems like the consensus is Dunnock though! Tom.

Thanks all, I think I agree, definitely a Black Redstart and after looking it up a female stonechat (there were lots of males around). Not sure on the Dunnock, I get loads of these in my garden and they aren't as 'streamlined' as this chap - similar colouring though. Tom.

Hi all, Spent a nice afternoon last week on the Cornish coast, amazing array of birds were about. It was blowing a gale so I was happy to get a couple of decentish photos handholding a Tamron 150-600mm. I think the last shot is a redstart but can anyone help with an ID of the first two? It...

I didn't bother with this one to be honest as I'm not sure it's good enough really. Just wanted an ID confirmation is all. Does look much better with a tinkering though!

Hi all, I've been trying to keep a track of all the birds visiting my garden and managed to get a couple of shots of this little fellow today, through glass and on an overcast day I was reasonably happy to get a decent 'front' and 'back shot, however I am struggling to identify it - I'm leaning...

Hey Ruth, I should have been clearer they are the same image, the first is unedited RAW and the second is my edit. Interesting you prefer the first! I do know what you mean about the colour, but that is how it was! I think the use of filters although ND may have put a bit of a 'warm' cast on...

Hi Marie, Fair point, although there was a bit of movement on the water I do see what you mean. The posted image is very poor IQ as I didn't realise my RAW-JPEG settings on Lightroom were set at low quality - it does look a lot better on my computer screen promise! What about the overall...

Hi all, I have been meaning to experiment with long exposures using ND filters for a while now, last night I went to Otmoor in Oxfordshire to get some long exposure shots of the water/reeds. Unfortunately there was no wind whatsoever but as I was thinking of leaving I noticed an amazing sunset...

Hi all, I have a Velbon CX 660 tripod which I am in the process of upgrading. I want to get a Manfrotto fluid head and eventually will get some legs too but on the meantime I would like to use this head on the velbon legs. However I can not seem to get the head off. Some things online suggest...

Thanks for the replies. Yes this image has already been cropped a little, with a touch of noise reduction - it was taken at 210mm so I couldn't really get any closer without disturbing the bird, also I was trying to keep the domed rock but agree that leaves quite a bit of wasted space. It's...

Hi all, I've had a bit of a break from photography, but am now back and raring to go! I took this photo of a kestrel back in the summer - any (constructive) critique would be welcomed. I used a pretty basic lens (Sony 75-300mm) - is this evident? I have done a little bit of touching up in LR...

Hi guys, good to know there are some other Reading dwellers on here! The heron and the kingfisher were indeed at Dinton, I know the kingfisher is terrible but they are the first shots I've taken of one! The deer was taken in the woods somewhere between the A4074 and Woodcote, I really like it...

I know its bad, you don't need to re post it!! I was just using it as an example! Another thing I've noticed is that when using large apertures, anything that gets in the way of the target (ie. branches) look terrible and completely ruins the shot. There's no crazy effects on that, but...