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March 28, 2008
Friday Feathers
One afternoon while photographing gulls I heard a familiar tapping. The sound didn't register immediately. Eventually I turned my head, looked up at the tree nearby, scanned the naked branches and then I saw it: a Downy Woodpecker. Ahh, that's where the tapping was coming from.
The problem with photographing birds in trees is when the wind kicks in. The tree branches shift and this sudden movement can make things difficult. Though the bird remains on the same branch you're focused on, branches waving in the breeze can sometimes get in the way. Depending on how high the bird is in the tree, this can turn into a bit of a dance for the photographer trying to capture the image. Birds move, so you move with them. After a lot of camera shifting to the left, right, up and down, you finally arrive at a clear shot. You press the shutter, check the display and think "hey, that's a keeper!"
I like both of these photographs. The first, because of the way the woodpecker is hanging from the tree branch, and the second because the bird's eye is (magically!) crystal clear. If only the branches didn't get in the way. *sigh* Next time I'll just climb the tree, cut down the offensive tree appendages, then take the picture. ;-)
Cindy
Comments
Now those are two excellent shots - even if the bird is a noisy bugger.
Brain matter deposited by: zed on March 28, 2008 9:36 AM
Cinders .... wasn't it your birthday yesterday???
Brain matter deposited by: zed on March 31, 2008 1:29 PM
It was and I missed it! Sorry ..... I do hope you had a lovely day and that you have worth-while raging hangover to prove it - Happy birthday, Petal!
Zxxx
P.S. 50 at last?
Brain matter deposited by: zed on March 31, 2008 1:32 PM
It was and I missed it! ;-)
Brain matter deposited by: Cindy on March 31, 2008 7:22 PM
Happy belated birthday. Perhaps you can magically fly out to San Diego on May 3 so we can celebrate a middlish birthday for both of us. I'll provide the entertainment. Heh.
Love the bird and the stealth aspect of both shots. I think I prefer those branches being in the picture. It's much "realer"
Brain matter deposited by: Da Goddess on April 2, 2008 4:54 AM
Hi Joanie! Oh, a vacation to the left coast would be nice, but unfortunately not doable in the foreseeable future.
Glad you like the photos; by the way, I voted for you... :-)
Brain matter deposited by: Cindy on April 2, 2008 5:49 AM
Happy BD, Cindy.
Brain matter deposited by: RONW on April 4, 2008 5:54 AM
