john-paulflavell
FollowA very cheerful robin from the Oxford Botanic Garden
A very cheerful robin from the Oxford Botanic Garden
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this when I was studying in Oxford at the Oxford Botanic Garden. I regularly made visits there for the flowers mainly but also the birds.Time
This was in my third year and this was very early in spring, I think in February. It was a wonderful clear spring morning maybe 10/11am.Lighting
It was perfect clear spring light. Luckily the robin sat right in a patch of sun which naturally highlighted it in the photo.Equipment
This was shot using my Canon EOS 1100D with my Sigma 70-300mm lens.Inspiration
I think botanic gardens are great places to take photos and I quickly fell in love with the Oxford Botanic Garden when I started studying. Although the focus for me has been plants the inquisitiveness and beautiful singing of the birds in the garden has always been wonderfully inescapable. On this occasion the robin simply landed in the bush where I was already standing and I snapped a couple of shots before he darted away again.Editing
This was one of those photos that is practically perfect when you take it!In my camera bag
I always carry both my long Sigma 70-300mm lens and my short Canon 18-55mm. I find the longer lens perfect for flowers when I can't quite get close enough! I also have a lens cleaning cloth just to ensure they're clean if I have to swap them.Feedback
Mornings are brilliant. It's well known that the light in the morning can be perfect for photos but I think it's more about the general atmosphere. Mornings are inevitably quieter so you have to worry less about other people banging into you or worse yet walking into the otherwise perfect photo! When it comes to birds I never plan to get photos of them but am simply aware that they are around. If the opportunity presents itself then point and shot first then check the settings. Sometimes the spur of the moment produces the most unforgettable photos.