First Attempt.

rubhandunain

rubhandunain

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32
Name
Alice
Edit My Images
Yes
First attempt at taking pictures of garden birds and birds in general really. These ones are the best out of about 80 photos, and they are still pretty bad.
I've not quite got the hang of the controls, but this seemed to be the best. I am open to any criticism and any tips. I've only cropped the images, editing is not my strong point.


Great Tit by Rubh an Dunain, on Flickr

I think this one is too much in the middle.
Great Tit by Rubh an Dunain, on Flickr

Great Tit by Rubh an Dunain, on Flickr

This one is a bit squint, everything is in focus (and I'm not sure I like that but I quite liked the bird) and it's too much in the middle.
Starling by Rubh an Dunain, on Flickr

Thanks.
 
you are too far away and/or your lens is not long enough ... even in the garden you usually need a minimum of 300mm on a DX body

you can get them nearer to you by moving any feeders and perches nearer to the house, if you do also think about the background
 
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As bill said a bit closer,but hey you made a nice start and the only way from here is up
 
BillN_33 said:
you are too far away and/or your lens is not long enough ... even in the garden you usually need a minimum of 300mm on a DX body

you can get them nearer to you by moving any feeders and perches nearer to the house, if you do also think about the background
Click to expand...

mikew said:
As bill said a bit closer,but hey you made a nice start and the only way from here is up
Click to expand...

Thanks, yeah, I know. I can't move the feeders as there's nowhere else to put them and I have no money available for a bigger lens as much as I would like one. They don't seem to mind if I wander about the garden as long as I don't make noise. I'll try to make a wee path to the grass see if that works to get a bit closer. I'll try on a nice day to sit outside and wait till they come, can't see that happening anytime soon as it's just started sleeting again, it was snowing earlier.
 
A great start and although your lens is a wee bit on the short side you would be surprised how tolerant garden birds can be of you. A small bit of branch positioned near your feeders can make a great natural perch to photograph the birds on as they wait their turn just position it so as you have a clean uncluttered background. Good luck and make sure to post your good shots as you progress :)
 
Can you PS the conservatory?? ........a real distraction to an otherwise really nice shot.
 
Jacobite1746 said:
A great start and although your lens is a wee bit on the short side you would be surprised how tolerant garden birds can be of you. A small bit of branch positioned near your feeders can make a great natural perch to photograph the birds on as they wait their turn just position it so as you have a clean uncluttered background. Good luck and make sure to post your good shots as you progress :)
Click to expand...

I'll try that once the snow has melted. Thanks and I shall.
 
vanilla said:
Can you PS the conservatory?? ........a real distraction to an otherwise really nice shot.
Click to expand...

Me personally I don't think so, I'm not entirely sure how you'd go about that, I might have a try tomorrow after a Google. Unless someone else knows how? And thanks, it's a shame that conservatory is there, it's not the most attractive thing ever.
 
You can look for a you tube vid for a 'how to' ......that makes it easier. May be a nice project for a rainy afternoon !
 
Not bad alice considering it`s your first attempt.Personaly I would not even bother trying to edit the conservatory out. You have a good backdrop in #2,are you not able to reposition your feeder somewhere near there? Even a small feeding platform a couple of feet off the ground and and a couple of old branches stuck in the ground will give you a wealth of choice for isolating the subjects.Make the most of the kit you have,this one and many more were with a 55 - 250mm and this is at @187mm.



Coal tit by Richard Venn, on Flickr
 
u8myufo said:
Not bad alice considering it`s your first attempt.Personaly I would not even bother trying to edit the conservatory out. You have a good backdrop in #2,are you not able to reposition your feeder somewhere near there? Even a small feeding platform a couple of feet off the ground and and a couple of old branches stuck in the ground will give you a wealth of choice for isolating the subjects.Make the most of the kit you have,this one and many more were with a 55 - 250mm and this is at @187mm.



Coal tit by Richard Venn, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Thanks. I think I'll have a try if I'm bored because at least I'll be able to figure photoshop better, even when it doesn't turn out too good. Sadly not as the feeder is about 4ft tall, the fence is 6ft and those trees are a good 8-11ft up. I'll try break some branches off and stick them in the ground by the feeder. I really like your picture, that wee birdy is precious.
 
Excuse the quick and rough edit but a bit of PP and and a bit closer will make all the difference,couldnt get much from the original but here it is.

View attachment 36171
 
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