Below are the original images I have decided to put forward into my folio for Assignment 206 – Task 1a-Theme 2. This folio concentrates primarily on images of the trees, birds and animals within my garden. These images are neither cropped nor amended.
Dawn:
P9294524; 29/9/11; 0735
f/22; ISO 400; 1/125 second; focal length 70mm
This photo looks through some trees in my garden eastwards towards Anslow village. I chose a narrow aperture to enable a large depth of field. Possibly f/16 with ISO 200 might have been preferable, but this was early in the course. The image is very bright and shows the brightness of an autumn dawn. It may need adjusting in Photoshop to reduce any glare from the sun. In addition this view has telephone cables in the background. These may possibly be removable in Photoshop.
This photo looks through some trees in my garden eastwards towards Anslow village. I chose a narrow aperture to enable a large depth of field. Possibly f/16 with ISO 200 might have been preferable, but this was early in the course. The image is very bright and shows the brightness of an autumn dawn. It may need adjusting in Photoshop to reduce any glare from the sun. In addition this view has telephone cables in the background. These may possibly be removable in Photoshop.
Afternoon trees:
PB134867; 13/11/11; 1527
f/16; ISO 200; 1/80 second; focal length 40mm
This photograph was taken in autumn afternoon sunshine, and the reason I was attracted to it was the pink reflection beginning to be seen in the sky. I was also interested in the shapes of the trees, and will compare this photo to ones by Richard Muir and Ansel Adams in a separate blog. Within Photoshop I shall check if the image is suitable for conversion to black and white. Otherwise it requires minimal editing.
I used a small aperture so that the depth of field would be wide enough to allow all of the trees to be in focus. Even so I could reduce to ISO 200 and a shutter speed of 1/80th second.
This photograph was taken in autumn afternoon sunshine, and the reason I was attracted to it was the pink reflection beginning to be seen in the sky. I was also interested in the shapes of the trees, and will compare this photo to ones by Richard Muir and Ansel Adams in a separate blog. Within Photoshop I shall check if the image is suitable for conversion to black and white. Otherwise it requires minimal editing.
I used a small aperture so that the depth of field would be wide enough to allow all of the trees to be in focus. Even so I could reduce to ISO 200 and a shutter speed of 1/80th second.
Nuthatch:
PC045032; 4/12/11; 1254
f/5.5; ISO 400; 1/80 second; focal length 142mm
This is one of the first images I produced using the Wireless Remote Control Device to trigger the shutter. My inspiration for this was initially my love of these birds as they visit the garden - their acrobatics and colour compare favourably with any other bird I have seen. Additionally there are several photos of nuthatches in Steve Young's book, and in a separate blog I shall compare them.
The sky was overcast so I chose a wide aperture. ISO 400 allowed a shutter speed of 1/80th second - the slowest I felt comfortable to use. This would not freeze any flight movements of the birds, but would permit minor movements of the beak and head to remain in focus.
When I consider the randomness of shots produced with this method this is an amazingly good photograph, well focused and positioned with the added interest of the peanut in the beak.
The image will simply need cropping with no further enhancements.
This is one of the first images I produced using the Wireless Remote Control Device to trigger the shutter. My inspiration for this was initially my love of these birds as they visit the garden - their acrobatics and colour compare favourably with any other bird I have seen. Additionally there are several photos of nuthatches in Steve Young's book, and in a separate blog I shall compare them.
The sky was overcast so I chose a wide aperture. ISO 400 allowed a shutter speed of 1/80th second - the slowest I felt comfortable to use. This would not freeze any flight movements of the birds, but would permit minor movements of the beak and head to remain in focus.
When I consider the randomness of shots produced with this method this is an amazingly good photograph, well focused and positioned with the added interest of the peanut in the beak.
The image will simply need cropping with no further enhancements.
House sparrows:
PC305048; 30/12/11; 1125
f/5.0; ISO 400; 1/60 second; focal length 202mm
As explained in a previous blog I like the unusual perspective of this photo - looking down on the birds. I have no issues with the choice of subject - the house sparrow. This photo shows that indeed they too are beautiful birds, and the colours are complementary in this image without becoming bland. The 2 birds looking at each other adds interest, although perceived wisdom is that the bird's eye should appear to be looking at the camera. In addition one of my aims is to produce a memento of the garden and the visiting birds. For this reason if no other hedge sparrows must be included.
Taken in late December the light was not good for this photo, but by using ISO 400 and a wide aperture I have managed a compromise shutter speed of 1/60th second.
Some slight adjustment in Photoshop may prove beneficial
As explained in a previous blog I like the unusual perspective of this photo - looking down on the birds. I have no issues with the choice of subject - the house sparrow. This photo shows that indeed they too are beautiful birds, and the colours are complementary in this image without becoming bland. The 2 birds looking at each other adds interest, although perceived wisdom is that the bird's eye should appear to be looking at the camera. In addition one of my aims is to produce a memento of the garden and the visiting birds. For this reason if no other hedge sparrows must be included.
Taken in late December the light was not good for this photo, but by using ISO 400 and a wide aperture I have managed a compromise shutter speed of 1/60th second.
Some slight adjustment in Photoshop may prove beneficial
Robin:
PC315076; 31/12/11; 1349
f/5.6; ISO 400; 1/60 second; focal length 300mm
This image is arguably the weakest of my selection. Eye contact with the bird is perfect, and the photo catches the familiar jauntiness for which robins are so famous. For winter the colouring is bright, but there is an element of soft focus about the head. However no selection for a theme to include birds in a garden should be without a robin, and for this reason it has been chosen. A separate blog will compare the image with one by Heather Angel.
Some sharpening and brightening may be required in Photoshop.
The reason for the soft focus is the requirement for a wide aperture (because of poor light) and hence a narrow depth of field. A similar photo on a sunny spring day would produce a sharper image.
This image is arguably the weakest of my selection. Eye contact with the bird is perfect, and the photo catches the familiar jauntiness for which robins are so famous. For winter the colouring is bright, but there is an element of soft focus about the head. However no selection for a theme to include birds in a garden should be without a robin, and for this reason it has been chosen. A separate blog will compare the image with one by Heather Angel.
Some sharpening and brightening may be required in Photoshop.
The reason for the soft focus is the requirement for a wide aperture (because of poor light) and hence a narrow depth of field. A similar photo on a sunny spring day would produce a sharper image.
Greenfinch:
PC315084; 31/12/11; 1401
f/5.6; ISO 400; 1/60 second; focal length 300mm
This is one of my favourite photos for this folio of images. The out of focus greenery makes a perfect background, but it is the simple greenfinch that grabs the attention. It is perfectly focused (compare to the robin taken with the same settings), and the angle of the birds head plus his eye contact provides a challenge - he intends to stay and enjoy the feast!
I have discussed the camera settings for the previous image - but the only difference is the exact position of the bird! Remote photography allows excellent shots of these shy birds - but the result is quite random.
This image requires simply cropping to the required format.
This is one of my favourite photos for this folio of images. The out of focus greenery makes a perfect background, but it is the simple greenfinch that grabs the attention. It is perfectly focused (compare to the robin taken with the same settings), and the angle of the birds head plus his eye contact provides a challenge - he intends to stay and enjoy the feast!
I have discussed the camera settings for the previous image - but the only difference is the exact position of the bird! Remote photography allows excellent shots of these shy birds - but the result is quite random.
This image requires simply cropping to the required format.
Great Tit:
f/5.0; ISO 400; 1/80 second; focal length 169mm
This is another favourite image. The great tit is feeding on a log feeder filled with suet and cropping of the final image will be essential to remove the hanging cord from view. Once done this image will look like a tree trunk where suet has been placed to attract the birds.
The background to this image proves interesting. It is sufficiently out of focus to not distract yet also can provide an interesting contrast to the smooth bark. The bird is well focused with good eye contact.
The image will require cropping and possibly some enhancement in Photoshop.
Birds on suet ball feeder:
P1155345; 15/1/12; 1209
f/4.7; ISO 200; 1/125 second; focal length 76mm
Taken using remote control again my aim here was to try to portray the more social aspects of our birds, rather than an individual image. Crowds of birds in the areas of the feeders is a common site in the garden and as such needs to be recorded.
The area covered is relatively large to enable shots of birds in various poses to be taken. Unfortunately this means that severe cropping will be required. Additionally in this shot the background is very busy and a distraction. This may also improve with cropping. I deliberately used ISO 200 so that cropping could be achieved without unsatisfactory pixelation.
There was sufficient light to permit this and a faster shutter speed of 1/125th second. I shall take further photos in this area but with a narrower focus, and with patience and improved light should produce some interesting shots.
Taken using remote control again my aim here was to try to portray the more social aspects of our birds, rather than an individual image. Crowds of birds in the areas of the feeders is a common site in the garden and as such needs to be recorded.
The area covered is relatively large to enable shots of birds in various poses to be taken. Unfortunately this means that severe cropping will be required. Additionally in this shot the background is very busy and a distraction. This may also improve with cropping. I deliberately used ISO 200 so that cropping could be achieved without unsatisfactory pixelation.
There was sufficient light to permit this and a faster shutter speed of 1/125th second. I shall take further photos in this area but with a narrower focus, and with patience and improved light should produce some interesting shots.
Blackbird:
P1165361; 16/1/12; 1248
f/5.6; ISO 200; 1/100 second; focal length 102mm
Ground feeding birds are common in the garden so images were needed for this theme. As explained in a previous blog I enticed the birds to a specific spot with nuts and seeds. This image as it stands is quite dull. Once more the area of focus is very large to enable photos of birds in several positions to be taken. The use of ISO 200 once more will permit cropping to be used, but future photos with a narrower focus should lead to some stunning images.
Ground feeding birds are common in the garden so images were needed for this theme. As explained in a previous blog I enticed the birds to a specific spot with nuts and seeds. This image as it stands is quite dull. Once more the area of focus is very large to enable photos of birds in several positions to be taken. The use of ISO 200 once more will permit cropping to be used, but future photos with a narrower focus should lead to some stunning images.
Wood Pigeon:
P1165384; 16/1/12; 1334
f/5.6; ISO 200; 1/100 second; focal length 102mm
This photograph was taken at the same spot and time as the blackbird. The comments made previously are true here, but this image has one great advantage. The left hand pigeon is in the sunlight and when cropped the image may prove very interesting.
The image will hopefully require no other enhancement.
This photograph was taken at the same spot and time as the blackbird. The comments made previously are true here, but this image has one great advantage. The left hand pigeon is in the sunlight and when cropped the image may prove very interesting.
The image will hopefully require no other enhancement.
Grey Squirrel:
P1165413; 16/1/12; 1505
f/5.6; ISO 400; 1/60 second; focal length 45mm
An image of a grey squirrel seemed to me to be essential for this folio of images. The food had been in this spot for several days and the squirrels had begun to feed. I moved the camera by 180 degrees for this photo to maximise the afternoon light. The ISO had to be increased to 400 with a maximum shutter of 1/60th second being acceptable.
Once more I was uncertain of where the squirrel would pose, hence the wide area of focus. However the image produced is one of an interesting squirrel in perfect focus. The photo will need to be cropped and may need enhancing in Photoshop. However for all its potential limitations this too is a favourite photo of mine, and I shall compare it to one produced by Heather Angel in a separate blog.
An image of a grey squirrel seemed to me to be essential for this folio of images. The food had been in this spot for several days and the squirrels had begun to feed. I moved the camera by 180 degrees for this photo to maximise the afternoon light. The ISO had to be increased to 400 with a maximum shutter of 1/60th second being acceptable.
Once more I was uncertain of where the squirrel would pose, hence the wide area of focus. However the image produced is one of an interesting squirrel in perfect focus. The photo will need to be cropped and may need enhancing in Photoshop. However for all its potential limitations this too is a favourite photo of mine, and I shall compare it to one produced by Heather Angel in a separate blog.
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