Arizona Cactus & Bird (3).JPG
Aug, 2020Views
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Top 30 rank week 1Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I am a self taught photographer who prefers to take nature shots. This photo was taken during a trip to Arizona to see my Sister while she was on an assignment there. We had such a good time together. And I went crazy with the camera with the new and strange to me land. It was like stepping into a different country. I grew up in the Iowa, visited Kentucky often, so this was very different for me.Time
I would guess that it was afternoon or late evening, as she worked until around 3pm.Lighting
I really am a self taught photographer. Except when I tell you this, I didn't take any classes, or watch a bunch of youtube, or read a lot about photography. I simple bought a small polaroid digital and discovered I loved taking nature pictures. So I bought a SLR or rather my husband bought me one. So lighting, well, I made sure I wasn't getting blinded.Equipment
This one was taken on an Olympus E520, no tripod, I find them awkward, no flash.Inspiration
I am inspired by all of nature. I just take what looks interesting to me. It is sometimes also beautiful. I found this bird getting his lunch from the cactus and apparently not minding the needles, very interesting. I learned later that there are birds that nest in the cactus to keep safe.Editing
LOL, I make sure I have pockets for extra batteries and lens.In my camera bag
I keep my camera and lens in a back pack type case. It always stays in my car so I can grab it quick if something extra special pops up. Every time I don't I regret it! Saw a sea turtle digging a nest once when I didn't have it! Agh!! There are always extra batteries in there. I use mostly the same lens all the time, but there are extra ones that came with the original camera. I've worn out two so far!Feedback
My best advice is just don't be afraid. Pick up the camera and go! Shoot as many pictures as you like, in all kinds of places, light and angles. My husband took photography in college. He says I just have a natural eye for pictures. I don't know if he is right, but I love it. The more you play the more you'll learn about what your camera will do. I don't know the technical terms and I don't really want to get into that part of it all. I just want to pick up my camera and see a different world. You notice things with your camera around your neck that you would never see otherwise. And we don't have to develop hundreds of rolls of film. It's the beauty of digital, you can take hundreds of photos and weed out the bad ones. And sometimes end up with something really awesome! The more you play with your camera the more you'll start getting more good ones and less bad ones. And it is a great lesson in patients when you sit for a long while, very still, just to capture that bird that wants to hide! Basically go have fun. It's how I get my exercise without knowing I am, Bonus!
